The Reunion!

[Scene cut to BAPO, screaming in agony, but only in his mind.]

[He lay unconscious on the wet ground, rain continuing to pour relentlessly. His glasses, cracked and battered, rested a few feet away. The cold water seeped through his clothes, making his skin shiver uncontrollably.]

[Suddenly, his eyes shot open. His breaths came in sharp gasps, as if he had just been ripped from a nightmare.]

[He Slowly Sat Up, His Body Feeling Oddly Intact, As If Nothing Had Happened.]

BAPO: What... happened to me? I can't remember...

[He rubbed his temples, trying to piece together the moments before blacking out. Then, it hit him—TACKLER. He was heading toward TACKLER.]

BAPO: I gotta hurry…

[He reached for his cracked glasses, placed them back on his face, and started running. Unbeknownst to him, the spot where he had been lying now held a distinct black mark, as if something had left a burn on the earth.]

[As he reached the explosion site, he froze. There, amidst the ruins, sat TACKLER—exhausted, broken—with two identical ILLEGAL HOUNDs standing in front of him.]

TACKLER: Which of you… is the real one?

ILLEGAL HOUND: I'm the real one, TACKLER, c'mon, recognize me…

[The Other HOUND Persisted, His Voice Filled With Urgency.]

HOUND: Hey, TACKLER! Remember that time you broke the vase and ran? But then you stumbled right into the owner?

[The other HOUND hesitated for a moment before speaking.]

HOUND: W-Well, y-you remember I had to fight some guys over our football, yeah? You and Thebe were just running from them…

[The first HOUND chimed in, his voice more certain.]

HOUND: TACKLER, you remember when BAPO was drowning in the pool? I jumped in to help him, even though I didn't know how to swim… Then you saved us all. SAIFUR was recording that…

[The other HOUND grew frustrated.]

HOUND: STOP ARGUING! DON'T IMITATE ME!

[TACKLER, despite his exhaustion, let out a dry chuckle.]

TACKLER: Wait… are we having a memory test here?

[His eyes narrowed.]

TACKLER: I know who's real. I knew from the beginning.

[He slowly got to his feet, picked up his sword—but something was off. The weapon did not resonate with his element. It was just a simple blade. Nevermind. He ignored it and walked forward.]

TACKLER: I always knew you were the real one… I just wanted to see how much he'd degrade himself just to live.

[One of the HOUNDs let out a relieved laugh.]

HOUND: Oh, damn! I knew you would find the real—[STAB]

[The sound of steel piercing flesh echoed through the rain.]

HOUND: W-w-what… d-did y-you d-do, T-T-TACKLER…?

TACKLER: HOUND never talks about nostalgia… unless someone else initiates it.

[The HOUND's skin began to shift, melting into HALE's form.]

[He tried to escape, attempting to use TACKLER's lightning speed, but before he could, TACKLER thrusted his sword deeper into his heart.]

TACKLER: Well… run.

[HALE looked into TACKLER's eyes, and for the first time, they were not filled with anger—they were filled with betrayal, pure and raw.]

HALE: F-Forgiv— [COUGHS UP BLOOD]

TACKLER STRAIGHT-TONED: What? I couldn't hear you.

HALE: FORGIVE M— [HIS VOICE DIMINISHED AS HIS WOUNDS OVERCAME HIM.]

[TACKLER pulled out the blade and, without hesitation, severed one of HALE's legs.]

TACKLER: "I'm sorry"—is that what you're trying to say?

[An ominous purple aura with streaks of electricity began to surge around him.]

TACKLER: I'm just… sick of seeing you.

[He swung again—the other leg fell.]

HOUND: TACKLER! THAT'S ENOUGH! STOP!

[HALE, now legless, started to crawl away, his blood mixing with the rainwater.]

TACKLER: My world's not red and white this time, HOUND. I know exactly what I'm doing.

[As HALE stopped crawling, TACKLER grabbed him by the hair, lifting his trembling, broken body.]

TACKLER: I trusted you, HALE… but then, you were working for someone I really want to kill…

HALE: I'm s—

[TACKLER raised his sword to behead him—until HOUND grabbed his wrist, & slaps him across his face.]

HOUND: This is not you… HOW CAN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

[TACKLER paused, his expression hardened.]

TACKLER: He works for OP USER… He was out to kill you guys…

[HOUND stiffened. He wanted to deny it, but the facts were right in front of him. Still, he stood his ground.]

HOUND: WE CAN'T DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES, TACKLER. WE'RE LOSING OUR HUMANITY.

[The rain poured harder. TACKLER looked at HALE's broken state and sheathed his sword. He took a deep breath.]

TACKLER: You're right… Sorry… I lost my temper.

[After some moments, TACKLER hit the realization that HOUND is standing right in front of him.]

TACKLER exclaims: HOUND! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?

HOUND shouts: TOOK YOU YEARS TO REALIZE!

TACKLER worries: WHERE ARE OTHERS?!

HOUND: We've got bigger matters to resolve than this…

[HOUND noticed that TACKLER's sword was not resonating with his element.]

HOUND: Can you use your element?

[TACKLER tried to use it, but it wasn't enough, it seemed like adequate amount of element was taken from him.]

HOUND: Maybe HALE stole your element… Take it back from him.

[Before HOUND finished up his line, TACKLER had already started walking towards HALE, in order to not cause any more bloodshed, he stammers:

HOUND: ON SECOND THOUGHT, I'LL HELP YOU RETRIEVE IT.

[He walks alongside him while saying:

HOUND: Just control yourself, okay?

TACKLER: I'm in control, HOUND, I'm okay.

[HOUND & TACKLER looks at the lifeless state of HALE.]

TACKLER: He'll die if we take my element from him, right?

[HOUND nods nervously, he sits near HALE, and inquires him about OP USER.]

HOUND: How do you know OP USER? Where is he?

[HALE's tears were flowing through his face, his voice was not audible.]

TACKLER: HOUND… Just how much did you hit him on his face?

HOUND: Says the guy who literally stabbed his heart…

[Both of them were at fault, so none of them said anything.]

[TACKLER placed his hand on his face, as to take his element back, as he did so, the electro element instantly surged through TACKLER's body, healing each and every of his injury, on the other hand, HALE's existence began to disappear into thin air.]

TACKLER: W-WOAH! THAT'S CRAZY!

HOUND: At the end of day, that thing was a monster…

[TACKLER checked his element, it was working alright.]

HOUND asks him about the timer that they have to defeat ECTO: You seeing the timer up there? Yep, we've got a needle up our as—

TACKLER: DON'T SAY THAT, that's a BAD WORD.

[ILLEGAL HOUND SCOFFS]

TACKLER: What timer? I don't see it…

ILLEGAL HOUND: What? Its right there…

TACKLER: I ain't lying, I'm really not seeing any timer here… think it might be a glitch?

[Both HOUND and TACKLER heard running footstep behind him, as TACKLER turned around, a person hugged him tightly]

HOUND: W-Wha… What are you doing here, BAPO?

[BAPO was teary-eyed, but that changed soon until he readies his fist to strike on TACKLER.]

BAPO: MOTHE—

TACKLER: THAT'S A BAD---

[BAPO fists TACKLER on his abdomen, TACKLER could feel the pain, and ducked down while holding his stomach]

BAPO: WHY THE HECK DID YOU LEAVE US ALONE HUH?

TACKLER: Sorry…. I got kinda carried away…

BAPO: SO "CARRIED AWAY" THAT YOU LOST YOUR HAND… ARE YOU INSANE OR SOMETHING?

[TACKLER tried to laugh it away as a joke.]

TACKLER: Hahah! You see, I'm okay now, am I?

[BAPO did not reply to that]

HOUND eagerly asks BAPO about STELLER: Anyway, Where's STELLER? I don't see her.

[BAPO was hesitating to talk about it]

BAPO: … The leaf was not there… I think it was used by someone else…

[TACKLER's heart was sinking down in thoughts]

[Until, they heard AQUA's shouting:

"HOUND!! HOUND! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

[She was up the plains, she saw that HOUND, BAPO, and TACKLER were there]

AQUA she counts the people down there: HOUND… TACKLER… WHAT THE HECK IS BAPO DOING THERE? ANYWAY, LISTEN--

STELLER: AQUA, WAIT THE HELL MINUTE FOR ME, IM NOT THAT FAST!

[She was huffing when she stopped beside AQUA, and hits AQUA on her head for not stopping, for that AQUA fell down the plains]

STELLER: OHH!! SORRY!!!!

[Three of them noticed that STELLER is alive, and were heavily relieved, & were glad to see her alive, among them, BAPO was shocked.]

BAPO *shouts*: STELLER! YOU ARE ALIVE! HOW!?

[STELLER knew that she can never see those happy expressions of them again, it is a once in a lifetime view that she could give by coming back to life, so innerly, she was too happy to be alive at that moment, and shouts:

I'LL TELL ALL OF YOU LATER, BUT WE ARE GETTING OUT OF HERE! C'MON, WE FOUND THE WAY!

[BAPO got AQUA up again, while HOUND picked up the swords bag and then 5 of them began moving towards ECTO]

[MEANWHILE]

[Scene cuts to SAIFUR and ECTO, working on a portal while AQUA and STELLER rush to find the others.]

[SAIFUR was helping ECTO with absolutely nothing.]

ECTO: "You're wondering why I stopped you here, aren't you?"

SAIFUR: "Kind of, yeah."

ECTO: "It's just that... it feels weird being alone. Especially when I'm in another dimension. Better to have an ally."

[SAIFUR hadn't expected that answer. Out of all the reasons ECTO could have, that one seemed the least like him.]

SAIFUR: "That's the reason?"

ECTO: "Of course not, stupid. You must be wondering why I stopped fighting."

[SAIFUR recalls the fight from earlier.]

SAIFUR: "Isn't it because you would've lost if you kept going?"

ECTO: "You sure are simple-minded... There's no way I'd lose in a fight. I saw a future where I—"

[He suddenly stopped. His heart skipped a beat, a suffocating weight pressing against his chest. He didn't continue the sentence.]

SAIFUR: "What future?"

ECTO: "Never mind… For that future to happen, I had to put an end to that fight—without letting any of you die... nor letting you guys kill me."

SAIFUR: "That means... the future is that you open a portal for us, and we return home. If you die, we can't go home. If any of us die, we won't go home either. That's the reason?"

[ECTO's gaze snapped to him, sharp and unreadable.]

ECTO: "Don't overthink it. Just sit here and guard me. I'll get it ready."

[Minutes passed. The silence between them wasn't exactly comfortable, but it wasn't tense either. Eventually, SAIFUR spoke up again.]

SAIFUR: "Why are you helping us? Knowing you... you would've left without looking back, right?"

[ECTO paused. His voice was strangely calm when he answered.]

ECTO: "Some people say I'm a good guy... and bless me with prayers for a longer life. While some resent me... and curse me to die sooner. But... I think today's the day that decides my future."

[SAIFUR wanted to ask more, to pry into the past hidden behind those words. But something in his mind stopped him. That was just... how he was.]

[Instead, he sat in silence. Until, eventually—]

SAIFUR: "Do you know about OP User? By any chance?"

[At that name, ECTO's expression darkened. A memory surfaced in his mind. Not a pleasant one.]

ECTO: "OP User… What's your deal with him?"

SAIFUR: "We need to kill him before we leave."

[ECTO exhaled sharply. He realized something. A cold, unsettling truth settled in his gut, which made his resolve stronger.]

ECTO: "...Oh. So that's why…"

SAIFUR: "?"

ECTO: "Nothing. Listen. About OP User… Let me be blunt—"

[His voice turned ice-cold.]

ECTO: "In your current state, you don't stand a chance against him. You're better off leaving."

[SAIFUR already knew he was weak. But hearing it from someone else—someone who had fought them—stung more than he thought it would.]

ECTO: "Well… since we won't ever meet again, I'll give you something. You're a good guy, Singer."

SAIFUR: "It's SAIFUR. And I'm not your friend."

ECTO: "Is it necessary to be friends to give a gift?"

[SAIFUR had no answer to that.]

ECTO: "This power is of no use to me… you can have it."

SAIFUR: "But… I can't. I won't be able to use it in my world."

ECTO: "Are you sure of that?"

[SAIFUR didn't reply. He wasn't sure.]

SAIFUR: "...Fine. Just don't expect me to owe you anything."

[ECTO gave a small smile—then, without warning, he gouged out one of SAIFUR's eyes.]

[SAIFUR's scream tore through the empty space. The agony was unbearable, his body convulsing as he clutched his face.]

SAIFUR: "YOU SON OF A—!! WHAT THE HELL?!"

[He writhed, his breathing ragged, but then—he felt something.]

[Something was inside his empty eye socket.]

[The pain began to fade. His vision returned.]

[As soon as he realized he could see again—he punched ECTO straight in the head.]

SAIFUR: "AT LEAST WARN ME FIRST, DAMN IT! I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE!"

[ECTO laughed, rubbing the spot where he got hit.]

ECTO: "That was a funny expression! I like that about you."

[SAIFUR, still breathing heavily, waved gusts of wind toward his face, cooling the sweat from his forehead.]

SAIFUR: "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!!!"

[His anger barely had time to settle before he realized something strange. His new vision—it was different.]

SAIFUR: "...Wait a minute…"

[He blinked. And suddenly, the past flooded his sight.]

SAIFUR: "Hey, ECTO… What is this?"

ECTO: "That's called 'Past Search.' With it, you can see the past of a specific place. The time period depends on your focus."

SAIFUR: "...Huh. That's kinda useful, I guess. Would help me find stuff I keep forgetting. But still, that's a really crappy gift."

ECTO: "I agree."

[SAIFUR gave him an unimpressed stare.]

ECTO: "Alright, alright. It's not just that. I've also given you better accuracy. Your swordsmanship and elemental control over wind—both increased."

SAIFUR: "...How?"

ECTO: "I don't know."

[SAIFUR was about to argue—but then, he felt it. The wind. He could see its direction, sense its currents like they were lines in a book waiting to be read.]

ECTO: "Eyes are the most important thing in this world. Put 'em to good use, and you'll do fine."

[For the first time in a while, SAIFUR felt... satisfied. Maybe even a little grateful.]

ECTO mimicked his thoughts aloud: "Why go this far? Why am I acting like a friendly figure?"

SAIFUR: "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!"

[ECTO scoffed, his voice softening.]

ECTO: "I don't know... Even I don't know."

[Then, he stiffened.]

ECTO: "Now, stop chilling and guard me. I'll get the portal ready."

[SAIFUR sighed and leaned back, arms crossed. His gaze flickered toward the timer—it still wasn't moving.]

SAIFUR (in his mind): "If we leave this world before the timer ends… then we won't have to kill ECTO. That would be a happy ending, right?"

Right?

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