Facing Demons

- And to Kim's place you went -

"I don't want to fight him!" Scott's outburst echoed off the walls, his frustration palpable. "I have no reason to fight him!"

"Ramona is your reason, Scott! Are you serious?!" You countered, incredulous at his reluctance.

"You finally visit and you're having a panic attack. Awesome." Kim deadpanned, her posture rigid with irritation.

"Scott, it's been far too long. You've pushed Gideon's fight away for long enough, and it's time to finish this. I'll be right beside you, if that makes you feel better." You offered, your voice steady with determination.

"No. I'm not fighting him." Scott declared stubbornly, his resolve unyielding. "I'd rather just... go back to Kim."

"What? Excuse me? We can't." Kim interjected, her frustration boiling over.

"Why not? What about- Haven't you and Y/N been there for me this whole time?" Scott pressed, his words tinged with desperation. "Things were always so complicated with Ramona. You're so, like, uncomplicated... you've been the one constant in my life. Doesn't it make sense?"

"Uncomplicated?" Kim scoffed, her patience wearing thin. "Don't you remember high school? It wasn't all cute movie-romance junk, Scott."

"We were high school sweethearts. But I had to move away. It wasn't my fault." Scott protested, his tone defensive.

"Are you kidding? You didn't even tell me you were leaving! I heard it from Lisa! I didn't talk to her for a month after that!" Kim exploded, her suppressed anger erupting like a volcano. "Not to mention, you screwed over poor Simon Lee... Well, we both did, but the look on his face..."

"Simon Lee? But... he was a bad guy." Scott muttered, confusion etched on his face.

"Simon Lee? The Chinese kid? I was dating him, Scott. I mean, I think he hugged me once." Kim clarified, her voice laced with a mix of bitterness and resignation.

The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the strange glow emanating from Scott's head, casting an otherworldly hue in the space.

"Scott..." Kim and you chimed in unison, exchanging worried glances.

"Forget it, okay? Forget I said anything. Let's forget the whole thing." Scott's voice sounded distant, as if he were speaking from another dimension, his words tinged with an unsettling tone that sent shivers down your spine.

"Y-your head..." Kim's voice wavered, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"I'm fine! Let's move on, already! Let's go!" Scott's sudden outburst startled you, his demeanor shifting into something you couldn't quite recognize, as if he were under the sway of some dark force.

"Scott, what's wrong? You don't sound okay!" You pressed, your concern growing by the second.

Without warning, Scott darted toward the door, flinging it open with a determined zeal before launching into a fierce battle against an unexpected foe. Caught off guard, you and Kim exchanged a look of bewilderment before rushing to his aid.

"It's Nega Scott!" Scott's voice reverberated through the room as he clashed with a sinister doppelgänger, his normally jovial demeanor replaced by a grim determination.

"You can't keep living like this, Scott!" Kim's voice rang out, her words filled with urgency.

"Leave me alone!" Scott's retort was laced with frustration as he exchanged blows with his dark counterpart. "I just need to kill him... so I can forget her... and move on!"

"Dude! Forgetting your mistakes will just cause you to keep making them! Trust me, I know this better than anyone! It's time to make up for them!" You interjected, your voice cutting through the chaos with unwavering conviction.

"I don't care!" Scott's defiance reverberated in the air, his resolve unyielding even in the face of adversity. "It's better than having to live with myself!"

"Everything you've done wrong is just gonna keep following you around, Scott!" Kim's words echoed with a sense of urgency, pleading for him to see reason.

"The past doesn't always define us, but it does help us learn and grow! It's okay to reflect on the past, but we can't just ignore everything that we've done wrong!" You implored, your voice brimming with sincerity as you reached out to him, hoping to break through the darkness clouding his mind.

"You've got to hold on! Otherwise- Otherwise- I don't know!" Kim pleaded frantically, her voice laced with desperation as Nega Scott loomed over Scott, ready to deliver the final blow.

"Otherwise, you'll never be able to fix your mistakes and become the best you!" You interjected, your words ringing out with a sense of urgency, echoing in the tense atmosphere.

In that pivotal moment, Nega Scott froze, his menacing presence dissipating as Scott's mind grappled with a flood of memories, emotions, and regrets. The weight of his past bearing down on him, threatening to consume him whole.

Then, with a sudden surge of energy, Nega Scott was absorbed back into Scott's being, triggering a visceral reaction as he wrestled with his inner demons.

Scott crumpled to the ground, his hands trembling as he grappled with the newfound clarity washing over him. "I remember everything. I don't deserve to get her back."

"But you can fight for her. Earn her back," Kim urged, her voice filled with unwavering support.

"And not just her. Fight for yourself, too. Prove to everyone, including you, that Scott Pilgrim is better than his worst self," you added, your words resonating with determination.

With a resolute nod, Scott rose to his feet, his resolve unwavering. "I'm ready to kick Gideon's ass. Let's go."

As Scott prepared to face his greatest challenge yet, you realized the importance of your own mission. "That reminds me... crap! Envy told me I had to look after her in the backstage...! I gotta go, see you at the show!" With a hurried wave, you dashed off, leaving Kim and Scott to their preparations.

"Actually, Y/N, something came in the mail today. It's for you," Kim called out, drawing your attention to a package that had arrived.

Your curiosity piqued, you approached the box, your heart racing with anticipation. With eager hands, you tore open the package, revealing a familiar label that filled you with nostalgia and warmth.

"Oh! From home?" You exclaimed, scanning the sender's details before noticing it was from your dad. "And it's from dad! Awesome!"

"Well, are you gonna open it, or are you just going to stare at it?" Kim teased, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, of course." You chuckled, eagerly delving into the contents of the package, eager to uncover the surprises it held within.

You set the box down with a satisfying thud, eagerly tearing through the tape to reveal its contents. Amidst the crumpled paper and bubble wrap, a letter caught your eye, beckoning you to unravel its message.

"To Y/N,

Hey champ! How's life in Toronto? Me and your mother have been up to a lot, saving lives, stopping baddies, you know the drill. The usual. We've heard how you're becoming part of an indie rock band, and we want to let you know that we're very proud of you! You've really gone far.

Anyway, as you can see out of the bat, I gave you a new jacket to rock around, spice up your look a bit. That and I thought I'd send a few other things I thought you'd enjoy. And a little something really special that will change the game.

Hopefully, the next time I hear from you, it's because of your success in that band. Make friends out of people, and help them. And most importantly, live and love. But not professionally.

Love, your mom and dad, Fetch and Smokes."

Grinning from ear to ear at the heartfelt message, you glanced at Kim. "You can try the stuff in my room if you want."

"Will do! Thanks, Kim!" You exclaimed, bounding off to the top floor and Kim's room.

- At Kim's Room -

You stood amidst the chaos of clothes strewn about, preparing for the monumental day ahead.

Envy needed your protection, and by golly, you were ready to deliver. March 1 loomed large on the horizon. The day of the concert, the day of reckoning. You knew the drill.

Glancing at your reflection in the mirror, you took stock of your ensemble. Gone were the shades of gray and black that often adorned your frame.

Today, it was all about the crisp, pristine white hoodie hugging your torso, contrasting sharply with the blue jeans that hugged your legs and the red flannel shirt under it.

Your sneakers gleamed with a fresh polish, and atop your head perched the iconic red beanie, a beacon of your style.

But there was one final touch, one last addition to complete the look. With anticipation coursing through your veins, you reached for the box that held the secret to your transformation.

Inside lay a leather jacket. Not just any jacket, mind you. This one bore the marks of battles fought and won, evident in the rugged tears and weathered edges. Yet, despite its scars, it exuded a timeless coolness that was impossible to ignore.

The zipper gleamed silver, contrasting beautifully against the vibrant yellow and black hues. And there, near the collar, a small metal button caught your eye.

With a satisfied nod, you put the on jacket unzipped, allowing it to billow slightly as you moved. And as you slipped on your "Y and N" sunglasses, you knew you were ready.

Today, you had a mission: watch over Envy, then rendezvous with Scott in time for the showdown with Gideon.

Intrigued by the unexpected discovery in the box, you reached for the metallic sphere, its surface shimmering with an ethereal blue glow.

But as your fingers brushed against it, a sudden jolt of static energy zapped through your hand, eliciting a surprised yelp.

"Ow!" You recoiled, shaking off the tingling sensation.

Determined not to be deterred, you braced yourself for another attempt, this time steeling your resolve against the shock.

With a swift grab, you seized the sphere, feeling a surge of electricity coursing through your veins, crackling up your arm with a potent charge.

Ignoring the instinctual urge to pull away, you clutched the sphere with both hands, welcoming the exhilarating rush of power that enveloped you.

It was a sensation unlike any other, akin to the feeling of absorbing abilities from others, yet infinitely more intense.

Could it be? Had this mysterious object bestowed upon you a new Conduit power? The possibility sent shivers of excitement down your spine.

Focusing your newfound energy, you directed your attention to a nearby lightbulb, extending your hand towards it.

With a surge of concentration, a stream of crackling electricity emanated from the bolt, snuffing out its light. The raw power flowed back to you, confirming your suspicions, you were now an Electricity Conduit.

A rush of confidence swelled within you as you realized the potential of your new ability. Electrokinesis opened up a world of possibilities, offering an impressive advantage in your upcoming showdown with Gideon.

But for now, there was a task at hand. Envy had entrusted you with her safety, and you couldn't afford to disappoint.

With May 1st looming on the horizon, it was time to face the final boss and emerge victorious. And victory, you vowed, was non-negotiable.

First, however, you had to pass by a few Core Relays to expand your arsenal of new, electrokinetic powers. Once that's done, you'll be more than ready to protect Envy from any harm.