Endgame: The Neon Prism

Chapter 10

Endgame:

The Neon Prism

By the castle grounds, two sides clashed. The remaining Crystal Vortex army spread across the city streets, bringing destruction. Alistor and his company battle against Havok and Kabuki in the throne room. Sarah stands alone atop the castle roofs confronting Auroa. Neither of them made a move.

"No holding back this time…."

She holds her fist up to tighten her wrappings. Fire begins channeling through her body.

"No holding back. This will be your final test." Auroa said.

They both rush in without hesitation as she throws the first fiery punch at him.

He knocks her back with a cold, freezing punch. Auroa gets swept back from the flames revolving out from her. Waves of fire and air projectiles collide with one another. He opens his cloak to pull in all the fire she throws at him.

"Is that all the power you got? I know you can do better." Auroa provoked.

"I'm just getting started."

She let off a smirk, moving in to grab hold of Auroa. He pulls away from her countering back with a tornado, but she keeps her ground. The cyclone incinerates and becomes a combustive explosion.

Meanwhile, down below, the party clashed with Havok and Kabuki, constantly exchanging blows. Katty and Alistor attack Havok with all they got while Maigashi and Winoa duke it out with Kabuki.

"Is that the best you got? I can take you both on in my sleep." Havok coerced.

The general catches both their combined attacks in midair. Stopped from one block by Havok's sword, the both of them got sweep kicked rolling across the floors. Kabuki pulls his puppets out on Winoa, keeping his distance from Maigashi.

"These dolls are annoying!"

Maigashi attempts to get close, but Havok intervenes. Alistor and Katty get back up to strike Havok from behind. Still, Kabuki shielded the general within a wall of mud.

"Damn! They're putting up more of a fight this time... let's see how they like this."

Maigashi fires a rain of electrical arrows at them. Havok merely blocked and deflected it back.

Kabuki casts a smokescreen to conceal himself, but Winoa blows it away with a gust of air. She gets close, but Havok quickly kicks her back. Maigashi was trapped by the puppet's strings, sapping energy away from him. As a result, he gets sent flying halfway across the room.

"Are you ok?" Winoa asked.

Winoa helps him up. Havok rushes to attack, but Katty intervenes. Alistor went in to strike back at Kabuki.

"Star Breaker!"

His attack, unfortunately, gets stopped by his puppet. Havok kicks Alistor far back.

"How do you like it now? With our combined might of offense and defense, you'll never break through us." Kabuki snapped.

The general fires his energy attack, sending the party flying back. Slightly bleeding, they get back up, unwilling to give up.

"We can't give up now. Not after what we've been through." Winoa said.

"I know...but this is not working," Katty said. "We need a different plan of approach. Alistor? Maigashi? Any ideas would help right about now."

"They're powerful. In fact, I don't know if we can win this. These guys are in a different league than us." Alistor admits.

Havok and Kabuki went right back in to take advantage of their combative momentum as they had no time to think. The party scatters across the room, forced to continue with the flow of battle.

Outside the castle, destruction rains everywhere. Buildings and walls collapsed over as the remaining Vortex army overruns the streets. Zolhalla backs Mira and Claws with the few reinforcements they had.

Mira and Claws fought side by side against the remaining monsters lead by the Umbrella Master. Umbrellas rain down on them.

"You've never seen one such as me. Cause my umbrellas will be the last thing you'll ever see."

The three get slapped around by the commander's umbrellas.

"Who is this guy? He's crazy!" Claws shouted.

"Ow! Those things actually hurt." Mira cried.

The three approach their opponent with caution.

Meanwhile…the battle between Auroa and Sarah continues. Sarah is seen dodging blasts of explosive ice shards.

"What's the matter? Slowing down already?" Auroa laughed.

"Don't bank on it just yet. Here goes!"

A massive inferno bursts out from her body. Pillars of chains and fire begin forming across the grounds, with streams circulating rapidly. In the air were the eyes of an infernal dragon starring down at the Wind Ruler. A huge mouth opened wide and ready. Auroa only had an amused look on his face. He waited with anticipation.

"Her final technique. Here it comes." Auroa muttered.

He launched shards of explosive ice to slow the attack down, but it was no good. He next tries to split the flames with a barrage of cutting air, but it was no good. The burning dragon devours the waves of wind he cast. It drew closer and closer, but Auroa did not hesitate to step back.

"Raizen! Dark Hurricane!"

He unleashes a massive hurricane to wall him off from the fire. Sarah's Iron Dragon collides with the cyclone wrapping itself around her inferno. The tornado attempts to break the fire apart. It pushes Sarah back, but she held on.

"I won't lose to you! Not again!" Sarah shouted. "Full power!"

The Iron Dragon shatters through Auroa's defense, ready to engulf him, but he was not through yet. As the last desperation, Auroa spreads open his hands, grabbing on to the mouth of the inferno. A void opens inside of him as the cloak from his body opens out. Pushed to his limits, the dragon takes him on a wild ride, slamming him across the castle walls. He held on, looking back at the dragon with a mad grin.

"It's time…."

Auroa suddenly lowers his guard. He comes to a stop allowing her attack to overtake him. The inferno soon dies out. Auroa immediately appears behind her.

"What? No…This can't be." She bemoaned.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I can't die yet. Nice try, though. You really had me going there."

Feeling the cold breeze on her neck, she turns around and finally gave out. Sparks seeped the last bit of remaining strength in her.

"Damn you…Auroa." She breathed her last words.

"Sweet dreams Sarah."

Her body soon burnt out, fainting at sight from over-exhaustion. Then, believing she was finally gone, the Wind Ruler turned his back for a moment of peace.

"Urgh!"

He suddenly feels a burning impact from behind. He drops to his knees.

"What? But how?" He turned around to notice Sarah standing.

"What comes around goes around."

Looking back, he wasn't disappointed at defeat. On the contrary, he could only feel some compassion, smiling back to praise Sarah.

"Not bad, not bad at all. You got me good." He quietly said.

Back downtown, the Vortex army begins to push back. Their numbers slowly diminish as the tide of battle changed.

"Kiya!"

Mira and Claws slashed away at Umbrella Master. Sparks burst out from his shoulders as he got right back up.

"I didn't expect these brats to be this strong. I underestimated them."

He finds himself surrounded by the others. He was able to fight on but instead decides to retreat.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Mira said.

"You may have won this battle, but the war is not over. So for now, we part ways."

The rest try to catch up to the master, but he teleports within seconds—the three look towards the destroyed city.

"Alistor…The rest is up to you guys now." Claws muttered.

Back with Sarah, she continues to approach the injured Wind Ruler. Finally, she comes to a stop staring tensely at his glowing eyes. Anger no longer burning through her eyes. A light breeze swept through her hair as no emotion was present in her. Auroa waited with anticipation.

"Well, what are you waiting for? This was what you want right? So finish me off." He pestered at her.

"Hey! You held back." She sarcastically began saying.

She was not satisfied with the match's outcome as they recall the moment Auroa lowered his guard. He begins giggling back to her.

"So what if I did? Even your Iron Dragon was no match against me." Auroa laughed.

"I want to fight you again one day. And next time, you better not hold back."

She helps him back up with a hand. They impetuously shake hands. The sky then shifts to darkness.

"What's going on?" Sarah wondered.

The two turn around to notice the Crystal Fortress moving on its own.

"The fortress? But no one should be inside?" Auroa said.

An angry voice ravages through Auroa's mind.

"Destroy them! Kill them! You will finish the job. Right now!!!!"

"Ahhh! No! RARE! Get out of my mind."

Their peaceful moment turns to a complete disaster as lightning rains down at Auroa. The Wind Ruler struggles with his mind to break free.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?"

"Ahhhhh!"

Dark energy strikes down from the fortress, hitting Auroa. He instantly loses consciousness as the fort begins to close in. Havok and Kabuki rush to the scene, with Alistor and others following.

"What's the racket?" Havok wondered.

"What's going on? Did you defeat him? Our battle suddenly came to a halt after feeling that energy." Kabuki added.

Sarah pulls Auroa back as they witness the fortress break away. The Neon Prism scattered across the sky. The fortress takes the form of a monstrous heart.

"What the heck is that thing?" Sarah muttered.

Havok and Kabuki began charging, but it effortlessly slapped them both aside.

"Useless!"

"Who are you anyway?" Alistor demanded.

The heart paused for a moment. Then, the eye reveals Rare's face, shocking him to his surprise.

"It's been a while Alistor…"

"Rare!" You've been pulling strings the whole time? I'm going to destroy you this time."

Alistor didn't hesitate to step forth.

"Hahaha. This monster you face is no more than a mere puppet. My patience has grown thin and now's it's time I step in. I will not tolerate further failures."

Rare fires a massive laser from its eye, sending the crowd flying across the battlefield. Injured and exhausted from their previous battles, they struggle to get back up. But, try as they might, it was of no use. Sarah was the only one still standing as she gave it her all.

"Foolish girl! You should have stayed down."

Rare's monster begins firing its eye lasers. Sarah charges in, dodging one wave after the next. She successfully got close to deliver one fiery punch, but it was barely enough to stop it. The vines from the heart retaliate by restraining her as she struggles to break free. Blood rushes beat after beat from the pounding heart, the vines wrapping across her neck to choke her.

"I won't let you…win."

"No fear I can sense. Reckless and valiant. Strong and hard-headed. Ignorant but not dumb. How pitiful."

The rest of the party suddenly regained their energy back. Alistor started to feel power returning to him. They turn to see who's responsible.

"Take our remaining power," Havok said.

"We are no longer puppets to Rare's schemes," Kabuki shouted.

"Let's end this," Alistor said.

Havok and Kabuki transferred their remaining energy to the rest. Sarah breaks free from the monster's grasp pulling out some of its limbs. Maigashi began firing away as Alistor and Winoa got in close to cut through the heart. Damage inflicted constantly leads to the blood spilled out its veins. Rare quickly turned the tables as darkness bursts from each drop of blood.

"Time for a trip down memory lane."

From the monster's eye, a warp instantly opened, distorting the entire castle. The party gets pulled inside.

"Where is this thing taking us?" Maigashi wondered.

"Hopefully not another dream. Brace yourself!" Alistor said.

They opened their eyes. Sarah immediately recognized the place. At the edge of a lush white forest sits a lonely swing by a tree.

"It's the very first place Auroa and I met."

Rare appeared in midair, taunting them as the monster was by his side. But, then, it descends at them.

"This place will be a fitting end for you all." Rare pronounced. "My son was foolish to go against my will. And now his fate will be sealed here once again."

Rare's monster fires another wave of lasers at them. On the run, the party scampers across one another in hopes of confusing it. Winoa and Katty unleash their attacks, but they did insignificant damage to them.

"Star Breaker!"

Rare's monster simply absorbs the attack.

"Nothing we do is working. So we have to attack Rare!" Katty pointed. "He's the one controlling it."

"Leave it to me!" Sarah snapped.

Without fear, Sarah charges directly at Rare, yet the pressure of Rare's darkness immediately slows down her body. Katty and Winoa were pushed far back as Alistor falls over Maigashi, thrown around while the void closes in on them.

"Enough games!"

Rare focused towards Sarah. Helpless and unable to defend herself, his monster closes in with its sharp vines, ready for the kill. She was now on edge, struggling for her life.

"It's time to end this. And I'll start with disposing of you."

Alistor and the rest of the party were down and out. She struggles to pull herself back up, coughing out whatever blood she had leaking out. Then, gripping the wrappings on her fists tight, she fearlessly glared furiously at the monster. She attempts to channel fire again but, exhausted, her flames burnt out.

"No…I can't be burning out right now…." Sarah gasped.

His monster rushes in to deliver the final blow, ready with its sharp vines. Winoa lets out a scream.

"No! Sarah!!!"

She was scared out of her mind, not bearing to watch. Without faltering, Sarah didn't flinch till the last second. Closing her eyes, she hears the sound of a puncture wound—the smell of blood drowning senses.

"Am I dying…?"

She opened her eyes; the sight of blood drips down, but it wasn't hers. The moment she looked up, it was none other than Auroa. He intercepted Rare's monster with his body.

"WHAT!? I can't move." Rare shouted. "Boy! What did you do?"

His hollow body froze in space with his monster. Alistor and the rest were shocked to see the outcome. Blood drips down from Auroa's mouth. He begins explaining.

"You've telepathically linked yourself to your monster. So I simply used my demon blood to seal off whatever power you have left in this world. I was waiting for you to come out in the open."

The Wind Ruler prepares for a big attack. Mr. Rare struggles to break free but was utterly trapped.

"Argh! I gave you life! Power! And immortality! And this is how you repay me? Your father!" Rare shouted.

A mass storm begins forming across the entire area. Auroa's wind tears the monster slowly apart. The next minute they were within a cyclone.

"You've always known I prefer handing things my way, father. So you know very well how this little arrangement ends."

Blood starts to leak from the monster's eye. He pressures Rare into a desperate plea.

"Reconsider your options! If you strike! We'll both die!"

"Raizen! Dark Hurricane!!!"

Auroa impales the monster deep inside, taking Rare with it. Rare's body slowly crumbles apart.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

With a flashing white light at the end of the tornado's trail, the V Crystal was all that's left behind from the monster held in Auroa's hands as he slowly collapses to the ground. Sarah quickly grabs onto him. The crowd went to join them.

"That was crazy what you just did," Maigashi said.

"Heh, tell me about it…Cough."

The party intermediately hears Rare's voice echoing from the horizon. His face materializes in the sky looking below them.

"No…it can't be. After all that, Rare is not finished yet." Katty muddled.

"Hahaha! My physical body may be gone now, but my soul will continue to linger on this earth. So celebrate your little victory for now. But one day, I will be complete. And nothing will stop me."

Rare's face disappeared within the clouds.

"Auroa!"

Blood continues coughing out from his mouth. Finally, he hands the crystal for Alistor to claim, placing it in Alistor's hands.

"I don't know what to say…." Alistor muttered.

"You've earned it…You now have one of three pieces needed to bring your love back. Alistor, for the next journey. Kabuki… Havok..."

The two stepped forth.

"Yes, Auroa?"

"What is it?"

"Loyal as ever. I couldn't ask for better friends. The Neon Prism….Seek the Neon Prism. Your next journey lies ahead. Aid him if anything is necessary. Havok! Kabuki! This is my final request."

"Very well…" Havok said.

"No! This can't be happening. But, Auroa, hang in there. You can pull through." Katty cried.

Tears were pouring through Katty and Winoa's eyes. An open wound was seen through Auroa's front chest. He took his final moments to look into Sarah's eyes.

"Not much time left for me. Sarah…"

His body slowly begins dissipating into crystal dust. She took him to the tree where they first met. By the edge of the lush open white forest, side by side. There, a look of dissatisfaction on her face.

"No…. It wasn't supposed to end like this." She pounds a fist to the ground.

Small tears slipping from her eyes, he places his hands on her to make her stop.

"Sorry…Not what I had planned in mind. I won't be able to keep that promise we made to try that macaroon place. It was starting to get fun."

"I never regret the day we first crossed paths. I finally understand now. You made me stronger."

With one last smile, Auroa departed. The shining blue glow within his eye fades out as the rest of his body turns to dust. His remains were soon buried as the sun nearly sets.

Alistor and his group left the scene with Havok and Kabuki. Winoa and Sarah were the last ones by his grave.

"You ready to leave?" Winoa asked.

Sarah finally got up. She rips the headband from her head, placing it at his grave. And with that, she turns around in a cheerful mood to face Winoa. An almost speechless look befell her. The both of them began leaving.

"Did not expect that out of you. It was almost like a real-life scene of my favorite soap show. All my…"

"Winoa! Don't even start." She cut her off from finishing her last sentence.

"Sorry, I'm just saying…You ever thought of auditioning? Besides fighting, you could make a great actor."

She continues ranting on as Sarah pretends to listen. She barely grunted without looking back.

Sometime a while later….Alistor and the party treated themselves at a diner. Kabuki and Havok were now awkwardly joined by their side.

"The Neon Prism is what we must seek next," Kabuki mumbled with his mouth full. "Mmm, these pancakes are delicious. Think you can order more?"

"Don't get the wrong idea thinking we're friends. We're just following Auroa's orders." Havok reminded.

"I'll keep that in mind." Alistor sarcastically said.

"With Mira and the Annerian reinforcements leaving, we're going to need all the help we can get. Rebuilding Mathias won't be easy." Katty said.

The main serving of food arrives at their tables.

"Well, never mind on that. For now, let's dig in! I'm starving." Maigashi said.

"Yeah, let's dig in. You can't start on an empty stomach. We'll find the Neon Prism." Alistor promised.

Katty took a moment to look from the window. A shooting star quickly passes by.

Back somewhere in another town, Sarah and Winoa return to their home.

"Well…Goodnight Sarah. Sweet dreams."

The light turns off as Sarah tucks in bed. Closing her eyes, she was only left to dream.

To be continued in

Moontachi Gaiden: Vol 5 The Neon Prism.