Vert's POV
After Neptunio's foreboding message, the other's decided to go and see what has happened to Neptune.
Noire: "By the way Vert, you mentioned something about the cracker... It's puzzling but do you think it's possible that he and Neptunio share the same knowledge?"
Vert: "Indeed... After that event with EnCodex, I do believe that the two are connected in some way, not to mention that they share the same face."
Blanc: "There's still a chance that he's just using that face though, I remember Nepgear encountering another version of the cracker that looked like Schwarz."
Vert: "Of course..."
...Emerald entered the room with a bit of an upset face...
Emerald: "They don't even know what's really going on... Is their faith in him really that strong?"
Blanc: "What are you talking about?"
Emerald: "I'm talking about the lords! They won't listen to me!"
Noire: "What? What is it about?"
Emerald: "It's Neptunio, he is not what they think he is... Wait... I thought there were more of you here."
Vert: "The others decided to go to Planeptune to check on Neptune and-"
Emerald: "What!? No! You need to get them back here fast!"
Blanc: "What's wrong?"
Emerald: "The Purple Lord of thunder... or as I understand it, has done something that he shouldn't have, I don't know his intentions but right now, he is more dangerous than any known beast here on Gamitopia."
Noire: "Oh no... Did we just send our friends to their demise?"
Blanc: "Hell no!"
...SHING!!! Blanc and Noire entered HDD mode...
White Heart: "I'm going to get them."
Black heart: "Right, Vert this is a bit abrupt for a farewell but..."
Vert: "I understand, waste no time and make haste, who knows what might have happened by now."
The 2 CPU's flew out the window with a rush and tension filling the air.
Emerald: "I still can't believe Grun won't listen to me."
Vert: "He must have his reasons, he's the type to think things through after all, plus you don't seem to know much yet about Neptunio, so maybe-"
Emerald: "Oh I know what he is... He is a bored man, tired of playing the same old game, and yet he keeps playing it anyway because for some god awful reason that he just can't get the ending that he wanted."
Vert: "The ending that he wanted... Are talking about time loops?"
Emerald: "You know about it!?"
Vert: "Not much... That lady in white mentioned it to us a couple of times, about the ending always being the same... about events that are bound to happen over and over..."
Emerald: "It's because of the Rendering light..."
Vert: "What is that?"
Emerald: "This information is known only by those who have seen it... and some who have held it have either been torn asunder or given something... If you were the latter and you survived the rendering light, then you will no longer be bound to any dimension... Your body... your soul... your thoughts and memories, will be retained no matter how many times a dimension undergoes a recreation..."
Vert: "A reset you mean?"
Emerald: "Not exactly... Think of it this way... In a game, there is a random chance for either an Enemy, an Ally or an Item to appear. Resets have fixed events, Items always appearing on the same spot, Enemies spawn in the same location and Allies always joining you on specific events. However, Recreations are different, some allies don't appear, some items don't exist, and sometimes more Enemies appear."
Vert: "Ahh I see, It's the same dimension however the concepts, stories, Items and such are different."
Emerald: "Exactly, from what this pendant had shown to me... Neptunio wields one of the blades that summons the rendering light... The Blade of Rendering or the Blade of Chaos... Maybe he even has both of them"
Vert: "The pendant did?"
Emerald: "Yeah, curious little trinket you got me here, when it acts up I get these crazy dreams and warned me about Neptunio... One question still remains though..."
Vert: "Yes... Why exactly is he looping the timeline?"
Emerald: "Not just that... He's making changes to it too, it's like he's searching for something..."
...creeeeek...~
Vert and Emerald: "Hmm?"
Rom: "Umm~ Where did everybody go?"
Vert: "Oh dear! Rom! Why are you still here?"
Emerald: "Your sister went to get you back... She must be really fast if she found you already."
Rom: "No... I was in the bathroom..."
...And then... Ram entered the room... and then Adult Neptune.
Ram: "Rom, we have to go. We don't want to anger Plutia you know."
Emerald: "Wait, your still here?"
Adult Neptune: "Yeah, I had to stack up on pudding and little Rom here needed to pluck flowers."
Vert: "Oh dear... Noire and Blanc went to Planeptune thinking that you were in danger."
Ram: "What!? Sis is in Danger!?"
Rom: "No~! We have to go save her~!"
Emerald: "No, your sister went to get you back here and so you will stay."
Rom: "But~..."
Vert: "Don't worry little ones we will see to it that they will be safe."
Emerald: "Yes, for now I suggest you girls stay here for now and-"
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! INSURRECTIONISTS HAVE ENTERED THE CITY CENTER WE ADVICE EVERYONE TO EVACUATE AND AVOID INSURRECTION CONTACT AT ALL COSTS.
Vert: "Oh my quite the predicament we have here..."
Emerald: "No... Idiots! I told them not to!"
Vert: "Emerald?"
Emerald: "The insurrectionists are composed of monsters that were either banished or opposed Grun's plan."
Vert: "And you never told him this?"
Emerald: "I couldn't! They were my friends."
Vert: "And what about Grun?"
Emerald: "He's... I don't know..."
Vert: "I suspected there was a thorn sticking somewhere in your heart, but to think it was secrecy... Hmm... I doubt Grun has not noticed though, he probably thought that this would happen... otherwise... He's heart will surely break."
Emerald: "What are you talking about?"
Vert: "Have you not noticed it? Grun loves you."
Emerald: "W-what!?"
Vert: "Oh come now, after what happened last night, you can't be that dense to not know."
Emerald: "Y-you saw that!?"
Vert: "Why yes~ And might I say it was quite an eye candy."
Emerald: "N-no! That was just uhhh... urgghh...Does he really see me as a girl...?"
Vert: "I believe Grun has told you, but I can read Grun's thoughts... And believe me, he was dead serious when he did what he did..."
It was very heart warming moment...
...Yes, he loved her, that's what's blinding him, he has put all of his faith on her, he trusted her, he wanted her to be happy, he promised her a world with no conflict, pain or despair... now... He will soon learn of Emerald's secrecy... All that faith... all that trust... What will happen to it?
Grun was still busy evacuating the civilians, in the meantime, Plutia, Edge Gear, Uni, Adult Neptune and Memoire went to the City Center to aid in stopping the rebellion. While I, Emerald, Rom and Ram went to the Insurrectionists camp to negotiate a ceasefire... Were it so easy...
We came in contact with the designated leader known as Prophet, he wanted to show Grun the fury of the monsters who were said to have endured the abuse of the humans... When Emerald asked him to stop, he said no, knowing well that he had no chance against the great sage.
Emerald: "What do you mean you won't stop!? Do you want to risk everything just to challenge the Green lord of Gale!?"
Prophet: "It is in our right to live our lives freely with no control from any lord, don't you see that this IDEA... This PLAN of his is nothing more than a mere delusion!"
Emerald: "I know, but resorting to violence is not an answer, we've managed to survive this long, we can't just throw it all away!"
Prophet: "We refuse to live in the shadows anymore! we have the right to live as we see fit, under the sun not under the crown of some human lord!"
Emerald: "This rebellion is outrageous! you will only make the humans hate you more! And what will that tell to the monsters that live in Leanbox? They will be abused even more!"
Prophet: "To hell with those hypocrites! They know that they are used, discriminated, hated and yet they still choose to suffer! My brothers and I choose to fight! We'd rather die Fighting! than die hiding!"
Emerald: "You're crazy..."
Prophet: "I could say the same to you... Why would you choose to aid him when you are a Beast of Sin yourself..."
Emerald: "I am not aiding him!"
Prophet: "Nonsense! You are there with him, day and night, it is your duty to eliminate him! But instead you chose to stay beside him, you might fight, you might squabble, but you never end each other's lives... And that! is no short of aiding him! Every second he breathes, he will work towards his goal nonstop, and every monster blood is a stain in your hand for not doing what you were supposed to do!"
...Silence... After that roar of emotions we were found silent...
Prophet: "You may leave for now, as a show of respect to our friendship Medaea... Escort them out."
Rebel: "Aye sir."
...We were sent out... It was very overwhelming, what the leader said, was true... for the most part... In a way, I believe Emerald just wanted things to end... this war... this cycle of pain and grief...
Emerald: "I have to tell him..."
Vert: "Yes."
Rom: "Miss Emerald~ You're not alone, we're with you."
Ram: "Yeah! So what if that big dummy won't listen to you, I'm sure Grun will understand."
Vert: "For now, let us head back to the Basilicom, it's a ways off, you'll have time to think."
Emerald: "Yeah... Thank you."
Meanwhile...
Gun shots could be heard from the city center, metal clashing against metal, electric bolts and bursts of fire could be seen.
BANG!
Rebel A: "Gah!"
Black Sister (Uni): "Agh! This is impossible! There's too many of them!"
...Uni shot multiple tranquilizing bullets towards the enemy infantry, effectively stopping their tracks.
Violet Heart (Edgegear): "...We have to hold them off, it's the only way we can get all of the civilians out of danger. Sei! HAAAAHHH!!!"
Rebel B: "Ahhg!"
Violet Heart: "Stay still for goodness sake."
Rebels: "A-ah... yes...okay..."
...Edgegear used multiple CPU weapons to cripple the rebel air units, all the while saving the pilots and passengers with incredible speed.
Iris Heart: "You pawns are not enough to satisfy me! Get your leaders out here! I'll take out my Unrelenting rage at them!"
Rebel C, D, E: "Eeeeekkk!"
...Plutia in her HDD form, struck fear into the enemy causing units to retreat from her presence...
Memoire: "Back off! Tenshuha!"
Rebel Groups: "AHHHHHHH!!!!"
...Plunging her short sword into the ground. Memoire channels her power and unleashed a straight beam of light that pushed the enemy back.
Memoire: "There's no end to them, we're gonna have to retreat soon!"
Adult Neptune: "Hah! Yah! Seiya! Ooo! A new bug! Get in my specimen book! Oh wait... sorry."
...Adult Nep was... well being a Nep...
Croire: "This Chaos... This battles... These events weren't in my records before... I should be clapping with glee, jumping for joy... but... This feels wrong..."
Memoire: "Hah! Urrrghhh.... SHIFT!"
...In a sudden burst of energy Memoire transforms into a gigantic dragon and breathes fire in front of the enemy.
Memoire: "We have to move now!"
Violet Heart: "Have the civilians evacuated!?"
Black Sister: "The national guardsmen have transported them to safe havens. The guards will also take point soon, we should be clear to move out."
Iris Heart: "Aww~ And I wanted to play more~"
Adult Neptune: "Now, now Plutie, we can play with them later, that is if they choose to fight more."
Rebels: "EEEEKKKK!!!!"
Violet Heart: "Okay everyone move out!"
...The flames soon died down, due to Plutia's incredible..ahem... "assets" the enemy was hesitant to advance giving enough time for the Guardsmen to take hold of the City center.
Back in the safe Havens, the CPU's and company were praised for their valiant actions... However the battle was yet to end.
The insurrectionists were planning for a counter attack, and while Grun's men were securing the City Center... Someone got into the safe havens, someone nobody expected to be there...
EnCodex: "Now then how can I make this a bit more interesting..."
...In the midst of the chaos, EnCodex had infiltrated the Safe Havens and was now concocting a plot to end Grun's Reign...
A few hours had passed and things have gone silent... Vert and her party arrived at the gates... what appeared before them was no City center... but a ruin... Guardsmen were conducting search and rescue operations...
Emerald: "Is everyone alright?"
Guardsman: "Ahh! Oh... it's just you, get away from me."
...The guardsman reacted with spite, his words were scornful, he didn't even want to look her in the eyes.
Civilian: "Someone help! My son! his missing!"
Emerald: "Where did you last saw him ma'am?"
...Emerald offered to help, but...
Civilian: "Agh! Go away monster! Leave me alone!"
Emerald: "I'm just trying to help!"
Civilian: "You want to help us, then tell your fellow monsters to leave our nation!"
Civilian: "Yes! Leave! LEAVE US YOU FREAKS!"
...Eyes with hatred, scowls that judged her to the very soul... fingers that point at her with blame... All she could do was bow her head... Ashamed of who she was...
Vert: "Enough..."
...then someone walked forward, wearing the expression unfit of her beauty... her eyes were burning...
Civilian: "And who might you be!?"
Vert: "Pity... I thought the guards would have warned you about me..."
...The CPU looks at the guard she had previously encountered.
Vert: "Now I rarely lash out at ingrates that do not the virtues of nobility, but when a certain line is crossed..."
...HDD activates...
Green Heart: "Mercy... is hardly an option for ungrateful beings such as yourselves."
The Civilians fall to their knees under the might of the CPU, they cower, they seek protection...
Rom: "You were so mean, you don't even know what miss Emerald wen through~!"
Ram: "Uh-huh! I guess you're just to dumb to get it huh! From what I've seen, Emerald could have just supported the Rebels and you would have been gone!"
Green Heart: "Look around you..."
Civilians: "..."
No one listened...
Green Heart: "Look around you I say!"
with the shout, the people looked at the vicinity...
Green Heart: "I may have not been here when it happened... but think of all the things you once had here... the houses... the schools... the play grounds... everything that your lord's make shift peace brought... ALL OF THAT! gone in an instant, and it's all because of this narrow way of thinking... You judged a single being for the actions of others... How could you say that you deserve protection and peace, when your mind is that shallow!? Tell me, you ungrateful people!"
...After a burst of wind... everything went silent...
HDD turns off...
Vert: "Think about what had happened, and realize that you have all brought this on yourselves."
...Vert pulls Emerald along towards the Basilicom and into Grun's office...
Grun: "Hm? What brings you here?"
Emerald: "Grun, those rebels..."
Grun: "Oh yeah, they caused a real pain this time... haah..."
Emerald: "Y-yeah sorry to hear that...anyway...what I was trying to say is..."
Grun: "Hm?"
Emerald: "Those Rebels are... well..."
Grun: "What is it about those Rebels?"
Emerald: "Well...umm..."
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! SAFE HAVENS BREACHED! CALLING ALL ARMED PERSONNEL TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY!
Grun: "Hrm, looks like this little chat will be put on hold for now, I need to check what's happened."
Without looking back the lord takes his leave...
Emerald: "No! wait!"
...Her voice was left unheard...
Vert: "We should follow suite."
Rom and Ram: "Uh-huh!"
Emerald: "Okay."
...Upon arriving at the Safe Haven, we were met with monsters, but not the rebels... these were shadows... like the ones we fought during the events of the Trigger from way back then...
Emerald: "Shadows!? here!? but how!?"
Vert: "What's wrong Emerald?"
Emerald: "These... beings... Are Shadows, but what's weird is that they are out on broad daylight."
...Of course! Shadows couldn't manifest under sunlight,and yet here they were battling Grun and his Guardsmen.
Emerald: "These guys... their illusions..."
Vert: "If you factor in the time of day, then that would be likely so."
...Looking over at Grun, he seems to have noticed it as well and started to conjure a spell...
Grun: "Dispelling Air..."
Something akin to a cold breeze blew past us and all at once the shadows disappeared... but a question still remained... Why just illusions...?
The Guardsmen checked on the civilians, none were hurt but they still went to check on the list to make sure everyone was accounted for.
Guardsmen: "Sir, all has checked out and none were hurt, here is the report."
Grun: "Good work, you are dismissed."
...Grun was reading the report while he walked towards us...
Vert: "Grun, how'd it go?"
Grun: "Everything seems fine..."
Emerald: "Great... Now Grun listen, I wanted to tell you that..."
Grun: "What the!-?"
Emerald: "Eh? What's wrong?"
Grun: "Emerald... we need to run..."
???: "Eheheheh~"
Vert: "Wait this voice..."
Grun: "Everyone Run!"
Girls: "agh!"
...All of a sudden the whole world turned black, the space between us was filled with a dark cloud of void... and from it we could hear a laughter...
EnCodex: "Ahahaha... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Yes! Interesting! Very Interesting! I will now play my part as the villain, now show me your conviction... Tell him what you have hid for so long!"
Grun: "What is she talking about..."
Emerald: "Grun... Those Rebels, their my friends..."
Grun: "Eh?"
Emerald: "They were exiled, banished and unwanted by the other nations... so I rallied them and made a small community, soon, the ones who didn't want to stick to your goals arrived as well..."
Grun: "Emerald..."
Emerald: "I'm sorry I kept it a secret... I didn't want you to trouble you, you were already so busy, so I had to do something... I couldn't just hurt my own kind either... so I had to separate them from you... I also had to take rations from our supplies to keep them fed during the first days of exile... but soon the community grew bigger and bigger... soon we had to take more... and...*hic*...I'm so sorry... "
Grun: "...."
Emerald: "Because of me, they grew and began to revolt... I tried to stop them multiple times, I asked them to just lay low... but I can't stop them anymore... I'm so sorry..."
...Slap...
Emerald: "Eh?"
Grun: "You idiot."
...It was small slap... hardly did any damage, and yet it shook her to her very soul...
Grun: "I've told you so many times... I will accept everything about you."
Emerald: "Hah..."
Grun: "Your pain, your lies, your suffering, your sins, your betrayal, your secrets... Literally your everything... I will accept them all, on that night when you saved a child, I made a promise... And I intend to keep it."
Emerald: "But..."
Grun: "Shh... Nothing you say will change how I feel..."
Emerald: "Grun, Yeah I know...Mm-!"
Rom: "Wha~! I can't see!"
Ram: "Hey! what's the big deal!?"
Vert: "Now, now, little ones nothing to see here. And you two if you don't mind we have children present."
Emerald: "Ah! Stop! Their looking..."
Grun: "Ehehe... Then when were alone then."
Emerald: "S-sure... I mean No! no!"
EnCodex: "Ahahahahahaha! Now that was very entertaining!"
Vert: "What's goal with this?"
EnCodex: "Right now... I am very hopeful... You girls might actually just make a change."
Rom: "Hmm? What are you talking about?"
EnCodex: "So many changes, so many new things... this recreation... might just be the one..."
Grun: "I have no Idea of what you are talking about. Can you please explain?"
EnCodex: "Gladly... First the little one this time was a lot braver than the last time, The lord was easily influenced before as well, but now, he is stronger, though still blind... And finally..."
...Out of nowhere EnCodex Launched a projectile in our direction, it passed Emerald, Grun, Me, Rom and then Ram finally it hits...
CLANG!
a dull sound reverberates and behind us was...
Cracker: "Gh..."
EnCodex: "You appeared earlier than before... In fact you are very early..."
Cracker: "Are you still trying to break the loop...?"
EnCodex: "That's what we've been doing all this time...You and that other you just kept repeating the same events in search for something, but this time... I think the biggest cause for this change is you..."
Cracker: "..."
EnCodex: "Before, your goal was the same as that other you, you were searching, and realized you it was impossible, so now, your goal has changed, you've given up looking for that thing..."
Cracker: "...I...I just..."
Grun: "This is giving me a headache... So you're basically saying that we've been going through the same events multiple times, just because some idiot keeps resetting the timeline?"
EnCodex: "Yes, but now... I feel it... things are changing, so now let it change! Welcome the dawn of a new day!"
Vert: "You're very energetic now, unlike the previous times when we met you."
Cracker: "I can't do that..."
EnCodex: "Eh? What are you talking about?"
Cracker: "It's true that I've given up on one thing... but now I have a goal... and that goal can't be reached while the Deity of Sin is still active."
EnCodex: "Ahh... Of course..."
Vert: "I'm sorry I don't quite understand... Why won't you let the loop end?"
Cracker: "Because if I do, then all of creation will meet its end..."
EnCodex: "So that's why you're collecting the Beast of sins, you want to overtake him, and claim the Rendering Blade for yourself... So you can Reset and recreate the world at will... you're literally playing God."
Cracker: "..."
EnCodex: "But that won't happen, I'll kill this beast! And you won't have a chance to-"
GRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
...Suddenly something bursts out of her chest...
EnCodex: "Gha!"
...Blood...So much blood...
EnCodex: "Damn you... Using my own ability... against me..."
...A clone of the Cracker appeared behind EnCodex and by using the monstrous arm that he gained from the beast Eithan, he skewered her with his sharp claws...
Everyone was shocked to see this scene...
Cracker: "Don't worry... After the next reset, everything will be better..."
EnCodex: "...Hehe... Hard to believe when you're literally killing me now..."
Cracker: "You don't die that easily, I just need you to sit in the sidelines for now..."
EnCodex: "Hahaha... Why did I save you back then again...?"
Cracker: "..."
EnCodex: "Silent as ever... you never change..."
...EnCodex faded away and we now faced a far greater enemy...
Cracker: "I'm going to have to take her."
Grun: "I'd like to see you try."
Cracker: "As you wish..."
Vert: "You have us Grun."
Rom: "You're not alone~!"
Ram: "We'll show you how to kick butt!"
Emerald: "I will answer your feelings with my own, but for now, we need to get through this first."
Grun: "Right."
Cracker: "Now then... Show me your strength..."
...The Cracker takes a stance and drew an ominous looking sword...
Rom: "I don't like that sword..."
Ram: "That's Edge Gear's Malice sword."
Vert: "Gehaburn..."
...A few seconds of silence... And we Charge into battle...
The Cracker began to summon lesser clones of himself...
Grun: "Too simple! HAH!"
Grun takes point and flew upward, he flips in mid air and then dove into the center of the army of clones, as he lands he brought with him a heavy burst of air the launched multiple clones into the air.
Emerald: "My turn!"
...As a follow up to Grun's attack, Emerald takes to the air and summoned her four spears, the launched clones were skewered, pierced, and cut by her deadly mid-air spear dance, she would occasionally launch spears to distant targets as well, providing great support to our assault.
Ram: "Let's go Rom!"
Rom: "Right behind you Ram~!"
...The twins began to provide healing chants and performance enhancing buffs, they would also freeze multiple clones and provide a freezing barrage towards the vast number of them.
Vert: "Oh I won't be left out on this one...Kinestra Slash!"
I made my move to directly assault the original Cracker...Using My spear I clear a path towards him, piercing through the army of clones, shattering the frozen ones, launching others for Emerald to shoot out, and joining forces with Grun to blow away a very large portion of the army....
This continued for hours... we don't even know what time it is anymore...
The Path was clear, but before I could reach the Cracker an impenetrable red wall erected from below, stopping my attack... Grun moves behind the Cracker and swings his staff while summoning a whirlwind to blast the Cracker away, but the monstrous arm grabs hold of Grun's staff mid-swing and began siphoning Grun's power.
Grun: "Aghhh!!!"
The Arm glowed red, the Cracker then proceeds to swing the malice sword at Grun, to avoid it Grun had to let go of his staff and jumped backwards, he manipulates the air surrounding his staff and caused a burst of air pressure, forcing the the monstrous arm to release it... He reclaims his staff... and proceeds to bombard the cracker with air blasts... The Cracker erected another wall...
Emerald then moves to the left flank she threw one spear that the Cracker caught and was then thrown back to her, before Emerald caught the spear she launched another one and proceeds to attack in melee combat.
Sparks fly off and the two engaged in a deadly dance... But then Emerald falls to a feint and is hit with the Malice sword... Everything stopped for a moment...
Cracker: "Now surrender..."
Emerald: "Ehehehe... Are you an idiot? I'm a Beast of Sin, I feed on dark energy!"
...Emerald's eyes glowed Red and She turns to her beast form... Medaea.
Medaea: "Know your place you petty thief!"
...Her hair rose up to form countless spears that repeatedly attacked the Cracker forcing him to Erect yet another Crimson wall... I move to the right and launched a Sylhet Spear forcing him to Erect another wall... Then he realized...
Cracker: "Wait..."
Vert: "Rom! Ram! Now!"
Rom & Ram: "Ice Sanctuary!"
...The Cracker had unwittingly trapped himself and now a large block of ice was falling on top of him.
Cracker: "Gha! Agh!"
...We hear his pained grunts under the large pile of ice...
Grun: "..."
Vert: "...Surely..."
...I thought we had won, but no, the Cracker was stronger than we thought... The pile of ice began to melt and soon a huge explosion erupted...
Grun: "Emerald!"
Medaea: "Here!"
Grun: "Fly... Gungnir!"
...Emerald hands one of her spears to Grun...
Grun: "Haaaaaaaghhhhhh!!!!!"
...With all his strength... he charged the spear with so much energy and then finally launched it towards the Cracker... his sleeves rip apart and some of his skin is torn off as proof of the intensity of his attack...
...The spear flew through to the red crystal wall due to it having weakened from the previous explosion... The spear then struck the Cracker, and he was left standing there with a spear through his abdomen...
...We were exhausted, the battle was finally done... and we had a chance to breathe... we walked closer to the Cracker... Miraculously he was still alive...
Cracker: "I gotta say... You're strong..."
Grun: "You will give us answers."
Cracker: "Sure... but first."
GRASH!HH!!HH!H!!
Medaea: "Aghh!"
Grun: "Emerald!"
Medaea: "Grun..."
Cracker: "Cracking Sequence: initiate extraction..."
Vert: "Stop!"
I tried to stop him, but a crimson dome encased them inside
Grun: "Emerald! no! Emerald!"
Cracker: "The Beast of Lust... is mine..."
Grun: "You bastard!"
...With his fist Grun tried to punch the Crystal wall, but all it did was make his knuckles bleed... the impaled cracker also faded away... it was a clone all this time...?
Cracker: "Cracking sequence Complete... I'm sorry Lord, but this needs to be done."
Grun: "Screw you bastard! Let her go! Release her!"
The red dome cracked open...but Emerald was nowhere to be seen...
Vert: "No..."
Rom: "Miss Emerald..."
Ram: "No... You big dummy! Let her go!"
...Grun knelt to the Ground devoid of hope...
Grun: "No... Without you... What's the point of everything I've done... I did all this for you, for that promise...Emerald..."
He was at a loss for words... he then realized he's been using that excuse just to be with her, so that he can stay beside her... but... There was no need to do all that... All he needed to do was stay with her... But he chose to dream, he was overthinking things... when really the answer was so simple...
Grun: "There was no point at all, was there? I had lived in a Fantasy... All this work I've put into this dream... this Utopia... It all meant nothing without you..."
He never needed to oppress the people, he never needed to force the monsters to live with humans... All he had to do was stay by her side... now he can't... Suddenly all his memories returned...
Grun: "Guh! Agh!"
...He was now the Grun that joined the CPUs in battle of the Trigger... but along that, the memories carried Emerald. Her smile, her face, all of her...
Grun: "Ahh... It took me a Millennia to realize... How could I have been so blind..."
He was about to give up when...
Cracker: "Hmm?"
...Something shined... it was the pendant! It summoned a ray of light towards the cracker... causing him to double over... something was leaving him...
Cracker: "W-wait... This is different... This pendant... Shouldn't be here... agh!!!"
...The pendant shined brighter and brighter, we had to close our eyes, it was blinding, all we could hear was the Cracker's painful screams...
Cracker: "Fair play other me... Agh... AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
...The dark void disappeared with the cracker... and we were left with a sight to behold... It had already been night time the Civilians must have returned to their homes and no further activity had occured... the stars were shining brightly in the sky, Adult Neptune, Memoire, Uni, Edge Gear and Plutia Ran to us... but aside from that there was another one that caught our eyes...
...Her hair as golden as the sun, her skin as fair as can be and a face of an angel... There she was lying on the ground... her eyes were closed, she was sleeping soundly at peace... Grun approached her, afraid that she might shatter the moment he embraced her... Slowly, and ever so gently... he picks Emerald up... He looks at her face and brushed off some strands of hair...
"...She's Breathing... She's Alive...!"
His thoughts ran to me and I was caught off guard... I was crying... I also felt that Grun has faced his sins, he's accepted his faults...
I couldn't help but feel tears fall from my eyes while looking at the scene before me...
Emerald: "Mmm...Huh..? Wait...I'm alive...?"
Grun: "Emerald! You're back!"
Emerald: "I guess... But what is this... I feel like I have some memories I don't remember getting... Does that even make any sense?"
Grun: "Aha... Ahahahaha... Nope... It doesn't."
Emerald: "Oh~? Well, I'm sure this one Memory is true though... You said you'd accept all of me... and that meant literally everything right...?"
Grun: "Where is this going...?"
Emerald: "Then you will have to accept the fact that I too would like to accept all of you as well."
Grun: "Hmm? Oh... Sneaky little girl."
Emerald: "Ehehe~! Hehe..hehe..... Hey Grun...?"
Grun: "Hmm?"
Emerald: "I'm... I'm back..."
Grun: "Yeah... Welcome home Emerald."
Was this a miracle? Was this a blessing? Either way, we were all thankful, there must have been a reason for how she returned, but for now it didn't matter, we were basking in the happiness we all felt.
Grun: "Emerald..?"
Emerald: "Hmm? Mm~!"
Rom: "Fuweh~!"
Ram: "Ah Hey! I can't see!"
Uni: "W-What's going on!?"
Memoire: "Uhh... you don't really need to cover my eyes for this..."
Vert: "Oh dearie me~ uhuhu~"
Plutia: "Wooow! They are ki-"
Adult Neptune: "Shhh! Plutie Think of the Children! Oh and everyone reading please refrain from extreme scenarios. K?"
Emerald: "Pwah~! Geez, I told you not in front of the children."
Grun: "Sorry, I couldn't resist..."
Emerald: "Oh you... Let's have some fun later..."
Adult Neptune: "Okay forget what I said, go for it lads!"
...The next morning we were informed that the people I "scolded" yesterday actually rallied the other civilians to form an official and proper apology to the monsters... Though scars don't fade and hatreds can't be subdued in a day, they have all agreed to give each other space, to which Grun approved, he had the monsters choose freely with no discrimination or threats... The land of Green Pastures was now peaceful once again.
Vert: "So how was last night?"
Grun: "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!"
Emerald: "Uck! Grun!"
Grun: "S-sorry, really Vert did you have to ask!?"
Vert: "I was asking if you were able to rest properly, or did you misunderstood my question?"
Grun: "I...umm...well... No, you did that on purpose!"
Emerald: "Ahahahahahaha... Let's just say it was lovely."
Vert: "My, oh My~!"
Troubles were not far, but for now we enjoy the scent of morning tea...
Meanwhile in Planeptune
Neptune: "I'm bored..."
Histy Notes
Prophet - A species in the Halo universe. The Prophet triumvirates known in recent years were Obligation, Tolerance and Restraint, and most recently Truth, Mercy and Regret, all of whom are now deceased. Regret was killed by John-117 on Delta Halo, Mercy by the Flood on High Charity, and Truth by Thel 'Vadam in the long range beacon on the Ark.
I keep my Promise - Grun's line "When I keep a promise, I intend to keep it." is a kin to the line said by The Master Chief to Cortana in Halo 3.
Were it so easy - A famous line from the Arbiter in Halo 3
Gungnir - Shameless self insert by Mr. Author.
Author's notes:
I'm pretty sure I had more references in there... but oh well...
Woohooo! Finally to NEPTUNE! Oh boy... I'm getting pumped for this!
Anyway, if you liked this chapter, why not leave it a vote? and hey! Share it to our fellow Nep lovers and as always, I will see you guys in the Next Chapter!
NEPTUNE I'M COMING BABY!!! (Not coming like.. come on guys...)