THE STONE OF FORGIVENESS VS THE SOUL OF CHAOS PART II
In the next scene, Victoria brought Ayumi to Zan. It was the morning of the next day.
"Hey Vikki, what's up?" Zan greeted in a deliberately nonchalant tone of voice.
"I'm heading to town for a bit. It's Dream Knight Business but don't worry. I've not ratted you out and I don't intend to" Victoria assured Zan.
"Am I supposed to be grateful? Sorry to disappoint but I don't need your protection. I can take care of myself" Zan said with a smirk.
"You really have an attitude problem you know? Anyway, look after Ayumi while I'm gone but I'm warning you, no funny business!" Victoria threatened.
"Hmmph! Is that supposed to be a threat? I don't intend to hurt Ayumi if that's what you're worried about" Zan said seriously.
"Okay, take care!" Victoria waved as she walked to her jeep, entered it and drove out.
Zan leapt down from the tree and crouched in front of Ayumi.
"Hello Ayu. How're you doing today?" Zan greeted cheerfully.
There was no response.
"So Ayumi, what do you want to do today? I'm all out of ideas" Zan said cheerfully.
Ayumi didn't respond. In fact, her gaze seemed fixed away from Zan. It was as though she were looking at Zan but not really seeing him. An expression of grief came over Zan's face.
"Hey Ayu, do you remember the time I gave you my notes? You returned them to me totally burnt. I was so angry then…but we became friends…" Zan said as his cheerfulness slowly became sorrow.
There were tears in Zan's eyes.
"I'm sorry. All these months, all I've wanted was for you to recover so that I could have my revenge. I was so selfish! I was so angry that I forgot the most important thing that happened on the day I was attacked…" Zan said as he shut his eyes and recalled that fateful day.
Scenes from the day Zan was attacked by the Kirisawas played in Zan's mind. Then the words Ayumi whispered to Zan were finally heard. As she trembled, holding Zan close to herself, she whispered these words…
"You once said I shouldn't suffer alone, now I want to ask you…to beg you…please do not suffer for me. I really had fun with you, you were my first friend, the only friend I've ever had. If there was a time in my life I felt loved since the death of my Mom, that would have been, the moments I spent with you. I'm sorry for being so weak. I can't even protect you from my family. Please live on Zan, even if what drives you…is your hatred for me…please live on. I promise to live and wait for the day…you can punish me for my weakness…" Ayumi said.
Her voice was trembling, her hands were trembling. Zan could tell that it took all of the courage she could muster to say those words.
In the present, Zan began to speak to her.
"Your words protected me Ayumi. Thanks to my hatred for you…I lived on. I became strong. Without realizing it, I acquired the strength you thought you lacked. I became strong enough for the both of us" Zan said as tears flowed down his eyes.
Zan burst into tears.
"At first, I only wanted you to recover so that I could have my revenge…but now… now I'm asking you to recover for me because…because I love you!" Zan confessed.
He looked at Ayumi and sighed as the tears flowed down his face.
"You win Jesus, I can't kill her! I can't hurt her! I must sound really pathetic right now" Zan sighed in absolute defeat.
Ayumi had a painful look on her face but her gaze still seemed far away from Zan. Zan approached her in anguish and then his feelings turned into a song of sorrow and yearning;
"I always thought that love was sad
I always felt that life was unfair
But then I met you and you turned my life around
But then you left, and you left me all alone.
I always felt that love wasn't real
But you showed me just how real it could feel
And I was happy when you were around
But then you left and you left me with a scar.
Would it be possible to be with you again?
To see you smile, to hear you laugh,
To hold you close to me?
Would it be possible to feel your breath again?
And would it be possible to be with you again?
Would it be possible, would it be possible,
Would it be possible to be with you again?
Would it be possible, would it be possible,
I hope it would be possible to be with you again,
And I pray it would be possible to feel your heart again"
Zan sang. Singing from his heart exhausted him. He sighed hopelessly and placed his head in his arms. He began to weep once more. As he wept, he slowly became aware of answering sobs.
"Zan, Zan, Zan, Zan, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry" Zan heard Ayumi's voice and looked up.
She was staring at him with tearful eyes.
"Zan, I'm sorry, please forgive me" she apologized.
"AYUMI! Y-YOU'RE AWAKE!" Zan exclaimed in joy and leapt into the air.
"Zan, please forgive me" Ayumi repeated.
"Don't worry Ayu, there was nothing to forgive. It took me six months to realize that" Zan said, but then guilt began to creep upon him.
"You don't need to say that. I'll understand if you hate me and want revenge" Ayumi cried.
"Revenge huh? To tell you the truth…I only wanted you to recover so that I could execute my vengeance" Zan said sadly.
"I see. I don't blame you…I deserve your hatred" Ayumi said.
"Hatred? I couldn't bring myself to hate you Ayumi. I tried but I was merely deceiving myself. I love you Ayumi. I always have…and I always will…though saying that now…sounds quite insincere" Zan said with a laugh.
Zan reached out to her.
"Can you stand?" he asked her.
She nodded and attempted to but her legs were not quite used to standing yet and she nearly fell down but Zan caught her in time.
"I should be the one asking for forgiveness Ayu. You sacrificed so much to protect me and I…didn't even realize your true feelings till just now. I attacked your family and almost killed them" Zan suddenly confessed.
Ayumi seemed surprised at first but she didn't accuse him.
"I see, you had every right to but…you didn't kill them…did you?" Ayumi asked.
Zan shook his head.
"I spared them. When your father pleaded with me to spare his daughters and attacked me to defend your sister…I realized that there was love in his heart, even if it had been shrouded by a profound sense of duty so I spared them. I'm so glad I did" Zan said happily.
"Thank you Zan. I'm glad to know that you love me even after all the pain I caused you but I'm not sure I deserve your love" Ayumi said.
"And I don't deserve yours but that's what makes it even more precious" Zan said with a slight chuckle.
"I do forgive you Zan and…I also love you" Ayumi confessed.
"Don't forget Zan…humanity is weakness. Embracing your humanity and rejecting true strength will only lead you down a path of regret" the sinister voice echoed.
"Thank you Zanfar. Your hatred for humanity kept me alive. For a while I sympathized with you. However…I DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE! I WILL FIND MY OWN ANSWER AS I WALK DOWN THE PATH CALLED LIFE! I DON'T NEED YOU TO FORCE YOUR WILL ON ME!" Zan declared.
"Do not forget Zan…you are me. I am you. No matter how much you deny it, a lion eats meat, a sheep eats grass, stars shine in the sky and dust covers the ground. A demon will always be…a demon! No matter how much you try to deny it…you will one day yield to me…after all…the very thing you fight to protect is that which gives me life" the sinister voice said.
Zan shut his eyes.
"You may be right Zanfar…about everything, but now is not the time for me to worry about such things. When that time comes I'll deal with it but, I'll take each day as it comes. I'm not going to agonize about the future; neither will I keep reminding myself of the painful past. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow. When tomorrow becomes today, when that day comes that I must confront you, hopefully by then, I will have an answer for you but for now…DISAPPEAR!" Zan ordered and opened his eyes.
They had reverted to their original golden colour. Zan felt an unbearable pain in his heart and head. He let go of Ayumi and clutched his head in pain. Ayumi fell to the ground.
"AAH! WH-WHAT'S THIS PAIN?!" he screamed and shook his head painfully.
"ZAN!" Ayumi called worriedly.
Zan was surrounded by dark flames. They were escaping from his body. He screamed in pain. There was a sudden burst of energy from his body. Slowly, the black flames turned brownish, then orange and then they became a bright gold. The flames turned yellow. It appeared the pain Zan felt was less now. The flames turned silver, then silvery white. The scar on his face caused by Ai's sigil, the mark of his hatred, slowly closed up till it was completely gone.
"Zan? Are you okay?" Ayumi asked worriedly.
"I feel fine. In fact, I haven't felt this good in ages. I feel so happy!" Zan smiled reassuringly and took in a deep breath, and then he helped her back to her feet.
"I'm glad you feel happy" Ayumi smiled.
Zan smiled at her.
"And I'm glad you've finally recovered" Zan said.
"It was all thanks to your song. Until now, it felt like I was in a dark place, unable to break free. When you began to show me your dreams, I began to see a faint light but I still couldn't break free till you told me that you didn't hate me. When you began to sing, I could see the pain you had endured all these months. It made my pain seem like nothing and I finally managed to break free" Ayumi said.
Zan laughed.
"What's so funny?" Ayumi asked inquisitively.
"Nothing. It's just that…six months ago, I never would have imagined the two of us in love with each other and you've changed quite a lot, from a proud and arrogant girl to someone sweet" Zan said.
Ayumi laughed.
"And I never would have imagined that the goofy clueless kid who sat next to me in class would actually become this strong…and sensitive" Ayumi teased.
"It looks like we bring out the best in each other" Zan said.
Ayumi nodded in agreement.
Victoria returned from town and was surprised to see Ayumi fully recovered. Victoria and Ayumi were formally introduced since they had never met prior to Ayumi's accident.
"How did it happen Zan?" Victoria asked excitedly.
"I dunno" Zan feigned ignorance.
"And your scar is also gone" Victoria exclaimed in surprise.
"Zan sang" Ayumi said.
"We-ell, that's a surprise, isn't it Zan? Who would have thought that behind that cold, indifferent, warped personality lay a powerful singer" Victoria teased Zan.
"Who are you calling cold, indifferent and warped?!" Zan yelled angrily.
"Wow, that was easy. To think you'd change this much in just one day. At first that would have actually been a compliment for you" Victoria teased.
"Besides, it wasn't my plan to sing. It was actually a spur of the moment kind of thing" Zan confessed nervously.
"So what are you planning to do Zan?" Victoria asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm sending those souls of evil back to where they belong. I also need to rescue the Key Of My Heart from Chaos!" Zan declared with absolute determination.
In the scene that followed, Zan was training intensely while Victoria helped Ayumi readjust to life. Zan's Black Bane appeared to be growing weaker. He walked in on Victoria and Ayumi while Victoria was teaching Ayumi how to prepare some English dishes in the kitchen. It was a Friday evening.
"Victoria, take care of Ayumi" Zan ordered.
"What? Where are you going?" Ayumi asked worriedly as she stopped what she was doing and approached Zan.
Zan smiled at her.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to see my father. I might not be back for a while…so please take care of yourselves. Ayumi…no matter what happens from now on…never doubt that…I love you" Zan said solemnly and turned to leave.
Ayumi came after Zan and held his hand tightly. She had a scared look on her face.
"You're not going to do anything dangerous are you Zan? I won't let you go. I can't lose you" Ayumi said worriedly.
Zan turned to face her.
"You won't lose me. I promise" Zan said with a reassuring smile.
"Then why are you talking like this is the last time we'll ever see each other again?!" Ayumi burst into tears.
A look of guilt briefly showed on Zan's face.
"Look me in the eyes Zan and tell me that you'll come back to me safe" Ayumi demanded.
Zan looked hesitant initially however, a moment later, a look of resolve showed on his face.
"I promise you Ayumi…I will be back" Zan said.
His voice was weak and trembling.
Ayumi smiled.
"I trust you so I'll hold you to your word" Ayumi said with a confident smile.
A greater look of guilt came over Zan's face.
The next scene showed Zan in the Dream World surrounded by Cowardice, Enslavement, Despair, Sloth and Decay.
"You don't look like ordinary Nightmares to me and if you are the evil souls, I expected seven of you" Zan said confidently.
"Unfortunately for you…we are the souls of evil once sealed by the seven elemental stones. However, our brother Ziri has already been dispatched by the Nightmare King, Sanziri. Chaos is occupied at the moment so we will be the ones to help you awaken!" Enslavement said.
"It is fortunate for me that all of you have gathered here to meet your doom however…I have no intention of awakening. I'm sending you all back to Oblivion!" Zan declared.
"That's so like Zanfar, always sure of his power. However, you can achieve nothing in your current state boy!" Cowardice said.
"We'll see about that! I AM PRINCE ZANFAR NIGHTBANE! IN MY QUEST TO RESTORE ORDER, I SUMMON THEE SIGILS OF DARKNESS!" Zan called.
In an instant, he was clothed in Black Armour and the Black Bane rested in his hands. The souls of evil burst into laughter as though they had just seen the funniest sight.
"Do you really hope to defeat us…with that?! Stop messing with us!" Despair charged to attack.
Zan parried Despair's attack.
"Idiot! Just how strong do you think you are?! I'll break through your sigil!" Despair roared and shattered the Black Bane with brute force.
"H-How is this possible?" Zan stared in horror and narrowly evaded Despair's axe.
"It's time for you to take a little nap" Sloth released a terrifying amount of lightning from his hands and electrocuted Zan severely.
Zan screamed in pain.
"Why am I no match for you…why am I…so weak?! Why can't I defeat you?!" Zan struggled to say.
Enslavement laughed.
"Funny! That sounds like something a final boss in an anime or game would say before he dies. It's funny hearing that come from a good guy isn't it?!" Enslavement mocked Zan.
The other evil souls laughed.
"Why can't you defeat us? It's because you're weak and do you know why you're weak? It's because your hatred isn't strong enough!" Enslavement said as she combined her fans to form a metallic shield and hurled it at Zan.
Zan was knocked to the ground.
"You are rather fortunate that I don't have to use my power against you" Decay said.
Zan struggled for a while.
"Ayumi…I'm sorry" he murmured and lost consciousness.
In the next scene, Ayumi jolted from her bed.
"Zan! Zan!" she screamed.
Victoria rushed to her room.
"Ayumi, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Where is Zan?" Ayumi asked worriedly.
"He's not back yet. Relax Ayumi, nothing bad has happened to Zan. He is very strong" Victoria assured her.
"Something's wrong! Zan is in danger! I can feel it!" Ayumi said hysterically.
"Ayumi, Zan will be back by tomorrow so don't worry, just rest" Victoria assured her.
Ayumi sighed.
"I'll try" she said and lay back on the bed and shut her eyes.
"That's right…rest" Victoria said.
Zan finally awakened and found himself within Chaos' sigil. He stared at the clocks that covered every imaginable space.
"ZAN! ZAN! OVER HERE!" Zan heard Ayumi call desperately.
He shook his head and glanced towards the direction of her voice. He saw her trapped within a big transparent orb.
"Ayumi!" Zan called and ran to her.
He touched the orb.
"I'm so glad to see you Zan! It's been so long! I r-really thought I'd lost you forever" Ayumi said as tears flowed down her face.
"Come on Ayumi, it hasn't been that long. I was with you just yesterday…or was it today…well whatever, it hasn't been that long, really" Zan laughed.
"That wasn't exactly…me. I'll explain" Ayumi said and then, she proceeded to reveal the entire truth to Zan. Zan sat on the ground, dazed. All that info was too difficult to comprehend.
"That can't be true. So you're trying to say that…I'm merely the product of an altered timeline and everything I know is…false? THAT CAN'T BE TRUE!" Zan argued.
"You are not a product Zan, you're a victim and I am too. It's all Chaos' doing" Ayumi tried to cheer Zan up.
"So…my dreams of you are actually…memories" Zan attempted to grasp the understanding of the entire situation.
"Yep, I think the only way everything will return to normal is if Chaos is defeated" Ayumi reasoned.
"But I can't defeat them. My powers are fading" Zan said hopelessly.
"You can. You almost singlehandedly took down two of them before. You just need a new drive Zan. You draw your strength from the Light, not the darkness. Only Light can combat darkness" Ayumi said with a reassuring smile.
"If none of this really happened…then…Wanye must be alive in the true timeline!" Zan said hopefully.
Ayumi shook her head sorrowfully.
"I'm sorry Zan. Part of me wishes that the present timeline is the true timeline though I know it's selfish…because in the true timeline…the one that killed Wanye was…me" Ayumi confessed.
Zan stared at her in shock and slowly smiled.
"I guess the true timeline and this timeline are not so different. I'm sure your Zan is waiting for you there. My Ayumi is also waiting for me so let's work together to set things right!" Zan declared.
"Yes, we must do our best" Ayumi said.
"But first, I want you to promise me something Ayumi" Zan said.
"Anything" Ayumi promised.
"You must tell me the truth…when the true timeline is restored" Zan said.
"B-But Zan, if I do that…you'll hate me forever" Ayumi said worriedly.
"Yes, I'll be angry and I will hate you…but I know myself better than anyone else, it will only be for a while and if I'm foolish enough to go on hating you…heheheheh, I guess the foolish me will have to experience the hell I experienced firsthand!" Zan laughed sinisterly.
"I'll try" Ayumi promised.
"How sweet. You two talk as though you're sure everything is going to change. It's strange. Even in the terrible situation you're in, you still believe in each other" Chaos suddenly appeared from nowhere and said.
"Who said that?!" Zan roared and turned around to face Chaos.
"I think I need to reintroduce myself. I…am…Chaos" Chaos said.
"Wait a sec…if you're Chaos, then the Key To My Heart is…Ayumi?" Zan suddenly realized.
"Pppph! Hahahahah! Key to your heart?! Where did you pick that line from? Kingdom Hearts?!" Chaos laughed.
A look of great irritation came over Zan's face. He growled in anger.
"Damn you old man!" Zan growled angrily.
But then Zan realized something else.
"Wait a sec, how do you know Kingdom Hearts?" Zan asked Chaos.
"Heh! I've played it!" Chaos declared.
"WHAT THE F…?! Zan exclaimed in shock.
"What's the matter…by the way, why do most RPGs always end like that? I found Kingdom Hearts to be quite too childish so I rewrote the game in my image. Say hello to Kingdom Heartless" Chaos said as he threw Zan a disk.
"Wait a sec! Could this be?! This is made for the PS 4 and it's a platinum+limited edition?!" Zan exclaimed in awe.
"Want to try it?" Chaos asked.
"Can I?" Zan asked with the puppy dog eyes.
"Go ahead, break a leg…besides, you get to play as Xemnas, plus I added a back story and…some twists" Chaos laughed.
"Okay!" Zan dreamweaved a PS 4 and inserted the disc.
All credits went to Chaos, animator, story design, music and Xemnas was the main character. Zan played for a long time as Chaos watched.
"Hey Zan! Don't be deceived so easily! There's nothing like a Kingdom Heartless!" Ayumi roared.
Zan turned to her.
"Sorry Ayu but I need to play" Zan said robotically.
"OH NO! HIS OTAKU SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED ON?! THIS IS BECOMING SUCH A DESPERATE SITUATION!" Ayumi exclaimed in horror.
Soon enough, Zan reached the final level and discovered the final boss to be Jack Sparrow! He immediately lost interest. He took out the disk.
"So how is it?" Chaos asked.
"This is trash! Kingdom Hearts is way better!" Zan said and threw the disk to the ground, smashing it with his feet.
"It's okay making a bad guy the main character but trolling Jack Sparrow in this setting…just doesn't work" Zan said nonchalantly.
"Damn you! How dare you smash my game?! The reason it's a limited edition is because it's the only version in existence you sadistic jerk!" Chaos screamed.
"Shut up you dim-witted pirate of a programmer, story stealer, credit thief, cheat, over 9000 otaku, troll plus…YOU'RE A FREAKING COSPLAYER!!!" Zan screamed angrily.
"Now that's too low, even for you Zanfar" Chaos laughed.
"You're one to talk you memory changing, timeline altering buffoon!" Zan roared.
"You say the nicest things sometimes" Chaos laughed.
Ayumi stared at them in surprise.
"Am I really seeing this? These two are less like enemies and more like brothers now. Do the evil souls really have emotions, could they have been people who lost their way in life at one point in time?" Ayumi wondered.
"This brings back memories Zanfar, but…I'd like the real Zanfar back now. He liked my parodies more than you do!" Chaos said seriously.
"Are you done messing around Chaos?" Enslavement suddenly said.
Zan turned around and saw her.
"Zan, be careful" Ayumi cautioned.
"Zanfar, it was fun playing with you but now it's time for you to awaken!" Chaos said seriously.
Zan attempted summoning the Black Bane however a surge of electricity blasted him off his feet. The Black Bane did not appear.
"Why isn't my sigil appearing?! Damn!" Zan pounded the ground in exasperation.
"Are you giving up already?" Chaos teased.
"You wish! Don't forget that I'm the Dreamweaver!" Zan roared as his power began to surge.
"I need a weapon. A strong weapon! A weapon that is close to my nature!" Zan roared and in the next instant, a Japanese Katana appeared in his hand.
Zan swung it. It was lighter than the Black Bane but very sharp. Zan smiled.
"You've just gotta love Japan!" Zan said and charged to attack the evil souls.
"This will have to do till I can think of something stronger!" Zan roared.
In the next scene, Ayumi opened her eyes (the Ayumi from the altered timeline).
"It's morning" she said as she freshened up and rushed downstairs to find Zan. She found Victoria preparing the table for breakfast.
"Victoria, has Zan returned?" Ayumi asked hopefully.
Victoria shook her head.
"I'm beginning to get worried" she admitted.
"I knew something was wrong. I'm sure Zan is still in the Dream World. Victoria, I need to save him. I can't enter the Dream World on my own because I can't summon any sigils but you can help me get there" Ayumi pleaded.
"And what will you do once you get there?! If we are faced by the souls of evil, even I will be defeated and that's if I go alone. If I go with you, I will have to fight while protecting you and the repercussions will be much worse!" Victoria scolded Ayumi.
"I know I can't summon sigils and it hurts me more than anything to be left out of everything important. The only thing that hurts me more than that…is not being able to protect the people I care about. But I must try even if I am powerless! You can't refuse me Victoria, please, I'm pleading with you!" Ayumi pleaded desperately.
Victoria felt cornered.
"Fine, I'll help you but don't say I didn't warn you" Victoria said and summoned her sigil, the Crossbow Of Orion.
Within Chaos' sigil, Zan had been severely beaten up and weakened by the souls of evil. Zan was tired and were it not for his dad's intense training and endurance exercises, he might have been dead.
"Zan! It's okay. Enough is enough. I don't want you to hurt yourself anymore for my sake. We'll just have to get used to this timeline" Ayumi said sadly.
"Somehow, that only makes me feel angrier! Something tells me that this is something you'd never say under normal circumstances. Besides, I am already used to this timeline but that's not why I'm fighting. I'm fighting because…he doesn't know it yet! He doesn't know what I've learnt and as long as he doesn't learn what makes up for a painful past that cannot be changed…neither he…nor I…will ever be able to defeat Zanfar! Too much has been lost in this timeline and the hatred here is much stronger than in the original timeline. Challenging Zanfar here would be like a lizard challenging a dragon to a fight. The only chance we've got is in the original timeline!" Zan declared.
"But…" Ayumi tried to argue.
"Don't run away Ayu! Don't run away from the fact that you committed a terrible sin against me in the real timeline. As long as you do not face that truth…you will not be able to save me from myself like she did. Besides, there are certain sacred things in this world…that should not be trampled upon! It's that simple!" Zan roared and charged towards the evil souls but he was disarmed by Enslavement and electrocuted by Sloth.
At that moment the altered timeline's Ayumi arrived within Chaos' sigil with Victoria. (We'll be calling the altered timeline's Ayumi, Ayumi X to avoid confusion).
"How convenient! We can destroy both Ayumis now. No doubt that would be enough to cause you to awaken" Chaos said with an evil smile.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Zan roared in anger.
"Zan! What did they do to you?" Ayumi X exclaimed in horror as she ran to Zan's side and helped him sit up.
Then she noticed the other Ayumi in the orb.
"That's not Ai…what's going on?!" she exclaimed in anger.
"It's not Ai Ayu…it's you" Zan said weakly.
"Me? I don't understand" Ayumi X said.
"I'll explain everything" Ayumi said as she explained everything to Ayumi X.
Ayumi X frowned angrily.
"How dare you?!" she growled angrily and turned to face Chaos.
"Don't look at me like that. I am an evil soul of time. It's what I do" Chaos said nonchalantly.
"HOW DARE YOU PLAY WITH OUR LIVES AS THOUGH WE ARE PUPPETS?!" Ayumi X roared angrily as flames began to build up around her.
In the next instant, she was engulfed by a powerful crimson red flame.
"AYUMI!" Victoria and Zan screamed in concern.
"Could this be?!" Ayumi exclaimed in joy as she began to hear the heart of the Pyrogeysers beat once more, both from excitement and anger.
"AYUMI! THIS IS OUR CHANCE!" she called to Ayumi X.
"I know, it almost feels like I've done this before. Let's do this together!" Ayumi X said.
"I AYUMI KIRISAWA OF THE KIRISAWA CLAN OF DREAM KNIGHTS, HEIRESS AND TRUE SUCCESSOR TO THE BURNING FLAME OF COURAGE DO SUMMON THEE PYROGEYSERS…TWIN SCIMITARS OF FURY!!!" the two Ayumis called together.
There was a terrifying explosion of energy as the orb encasing Ayumi shattered. A single blade appeared in the hands of both Ayumis and then the blade split into twin scimitars, wicked looking Arabian like swords surrounded by intense flames.
"NO!" Chaos screamed in horror.
"Ayumi, you finally summoned your sigil" Victoria said as the flames slowly died down to reveal both Ayumis clothed in similar fiery ceremonial costumes of the ancient female warrior line of the Kirisawa family with crimson headbands tied around their heads.
"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY! YOU'LL REGRET THE DAY YOU MADE I AND THE PYROGEYSERS ANGRY!!!" the two Ayumis roared and charged to attack the souls of evil.
With their combined powers, they took down Cowardice and Despair but just when they charged on Enslavement, Chaos turned the tables on them by slowing down the waves of time around them thus making their movements very predictable. Now the evil souls seemed much faster than before. They surrounded the two Ayumis and beat them up. Enslavement summoned her shield once more and caught them in a terrible wave of wind. Decay sprayed them with stale water and Sloth electrocuted them with lightning.
"NO! STOP!" Zan screamed in desperation but the souls of evil continued to torture the two Ayumis.
Victoria tried to intervene and was caught in the frenzy of torture as well.
"I have to stop this. I need a weapon! Something strong enough to defeat the souls of evil. Please…anyone, please help me save…Ayumi" Zan called weakly.
"P-r-o-t-e-c-t A-y-u-m-I" a voice called to Zan.
"What was that?" Zan wondered in surprise.
This was a call from himself from the original timeline who existed within him as a fragment. Zan from the original timeline, to prepare Zan to confront the evil souls led Zan to confront his fear though Fortitude, to confront Enslavement through a strong sense of Duty and Freedom from senseless pleasures, to confront Despair through Humility, to confront Chaos through an understanding of his own mortality and through learning to forgive himself, to overcome his doubt through a Complete Mastery Over The Human Will, to overcome Decay, the inversion of the Conscience, through Confidence in himself and to overcome Lies who conjured up an image of the two Ayumis on the verge of death to torment Zan by exposing the absurdity and foolishness of his words through Truth, the Ultimate Soul Of Virtue, God Himself.
Zan realized that the two Ayumis were still alive and that he could save them.
"Congratulations Zan, you know yourself now" the Zan from the original timeline congratulated him.
A brilliant Light appeared before Zan and he found the Silver Dream sheathed within an altar, the manifestation of his love for Ayumi. He unsheathed it and felt strength flow into him as he slowly began to bond with the blade.
"What is the meaning of your name Zan?" the original Zan asked.
Zan smiled and withdrew the blade.
"I had forgotten what my name meant. My name, the name Zan…means… 'Dream!'" Zan said and completely withdrew the sword.
"Zan, before…I become part of you and your Sword, I want to pass this gift to Ayumi and Chaos. You must remember Chaos, Zan or you won't be able to save him…" the original Zan said and faded away. "You have the power…you've always had it" he said and faded away.
Zan opened his eyes and found himself in the battle where Ayumi, Ayumi X and Victoria were being tortured by the evil souls. He stood up, breathing intensely.
"If you value your lives…you will let them go this instant!" Zan ordered.
"There is nothing you can do so stop bluffing!" Enslavement roared and increased the velocity of wind around the captives.
"I warned you!" Zan declared.
Ayumi opened her eyes as memories of Zan's battle with Bunnyos Extremos filled her mind.
"Those words…Those were the words Zan said when he first summoned…" Ayumi struggled to say.
"I AM PRINCE AYZAN NIGHTBANE!!! IN MY TIME OF NEED I SUMMON THEE SIGILS OF LIGHT!" Zan roared as the Silver Dream appeared in his arms and his bright silvery white armour clothed him.
"THAT SWORD! IT CANNOT BE!!!" the souls of evil exclaimed in horror.
"Behold! Your end has come wretched souls!" Zan roared and charged to attack them.
The evil souls stopped attacking the two Ayumis and Victoria and turned their attention to him. Enslavement charged in first.
"You can't stop us!" she roared and hurled her shield towards Zan.
Zan swung his sigil with all his strength and shattered her shield with a single strike.
"Impossible!" Enslavement exclaimed in horror.
"Not nearly as impossible as my next attack" Zan roared and took in a deep breath.
Zan focused the light around himself into a compressed field around his sword.
"Take this and realize your foolishness for daring to hurt Ayumi before my very eyes!" Zan roared as the very dimension began to tremble from the pressure of his power…
"No! His power level is rising! It's…it's…it's immense!" Despair roared.
"Regret your foolishness for an eternity and repent in the netherworld! LUMINOUS BLAZE!" Zan roared and released an insane barrage of Light attacks almost like a meteor shower in their devastating power.
Enslavement, Cowardice, Despair, Sloth and Decay were destroyed in that onslaught leaving only Chaos. Ayumi, Ayumi X and Victoria had protected themselves by raising shields around themselves. But even if they hadn't they wouldn't have been injured because Zan's fury was not directed towards them. Finally…Zan turned to face Chaos.
"Now, all that's left…is you!" Zan roared and pointed his sigil towards Chaos.
"Congratulations! Once again you managed to defeat my brethren but don't think for a moment that defeating me will be that easy. You seem to have forgotten that I am time itself" Chaos said confidently.
"Finally, it has come to a showdown between Zan and Chaos" the other Ayumi said.
"Zan! Be careful! Chaos can manipulate the waves of time to his advantage!" Ayumi warned.
"I know!" Zan declared.
"So how do you plan to deal with that?" Chaos asked.
"Ha! Like hell I'd tell you!" Zan mocked Chaos.
"You sorely underestimate me! I AM CHAOS! ONCE SEALED BY THE STONE OF TIME! SIGIL WITHIN A SIGIL! I SUMMON THEE…MONOCHRON!!!" Chaos called and all the clocks within the Internal Titanium G-Shock began to vibrate and hum loudly, then they all disintegrated and reassembled around Chaos transforming him from a man into a huge metallic beast with the likeness of a dragon!
"Now you will face my wrath! Zanfar!" Chaos roared and breathed intense silvery flame that engulfed Zan.
Zan struggled against it but when the flames disappeared, Zan could hardly move. He became like a living statue. Chaos charged towards him and headbutted him. He was thrown off his feet. He screamed and fell to the ground.
"Now how would you like the taste of the breath of a modern dragon?! Take this, my breath of liquid nitrogen!" Chaos roared and breathed nitrogen in Zan's direction.
"NO WAY!!!" Zan screamed in disbelief.
Before the nitrogen could reach Zan, both Ayumis leapt in front of him to protect him.
"I've always wanted to try evaporating liquid nitrogen! Unfortunately, I've never had the chance!" Ayumi declared with a smirk.
"You've got that right! If we can evaporate all of it…then Pyrogeysers will undoubtedly be the strongest Flame Sigil in existence, stronger than even Dad's Trailblazer!" Ayumi X roared.
"Pyrogeysers! Flame rivaling that of a dragon's! Prove your strength and devour it all! UPGRADING FLAME SIGIL LEVEL ONE TO LIVING SIGIL LEVEL ZERO! SHINSEI RYUUENNJINN! AWAKEN!!! THIS IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF MY SIGIL, PYROGEYSERS! THE DIVINE DRAGON FLAME GOD RYUUENNJINN!!!" the two Ayumis roared as their powers flowed through the Pyrogeysers!
The Pyrogeysers leapt into the air each assuming the form of the Dragon Deity Ryuuenjinn. The two Ryuuennjinns immediately and without much effort evaporated all Chaos' liquid nitrogen and succeeded in dealing him heavy damage, shattering most of his armour in the process before disappearing.
"If this was your trump card, why didn't you use it from the beginning?!" Chaos roared angrily.
"Because Shinsei Ryuuenjinn is a last resort technique only to be used when battles reach a point where a decisive defeat is necessary. The reason I don't like to use Shinsei Ryuuenjinn in most of my battles is the condition necessary for its use. Shinsei Ryuuenjinn consumes all my remaining stamina just to manifest so it can at most deal a maximum of three attacks. Its first attack was what evaporated your nitrogen, the second attack was what shattered your armour…" Ayumi declared.
"And the third…?" Chaos asked.
Ayumi smirked as Zan stood up.
"Shinsei Ryuuenjinn has another ability, a unique one to balance its power. On the minus side, it consumes all the stamina I have but…on the plus side…it allows me to transfer all that stamina into anyone that isn't me" Ayumi laughed sinisterly.
"ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN AYU?!" Zan screamed in horror.
"Zan, you have the remaining stamina of two Ayumi Kirisawas, two mes. You should have enough stamina to fight…for six days without food or water" Ayumi declared.
"That settles it Ayu, you're definitely not human" Zan joked.
"Break a leg" Ayumi cheered him on.
"A leg? No I'm not satisfied with just that…after all he has done…I'll break every single bone in his body!" Zan declared and charged to attack Chaos.
Zan was faster, swifter, more agile and sharper than he had ever been. It felt like he had been given a chance to feel how strong Ayumi was in battle. His speed was so immense that Chaos couldn't even slow him down if he tried. Zan bombarded Chaos with a barrage of Sword attacks and managed to strip him of all his remaining armour. In a rage, Chaos sped the time waves around himself exponentially and he and Zan engaged in a battle the eye could not follow. During the battle, the Silver Dream was shattered and Chaos and Zan continued with a fist fight. They bombarded one another with heavy blows, facial blows, body blows, kicks. When they began to wear one another out, they paused.
"So what…you're just going to kill me like you did the others?! That is why you can never understand us! That is why we want Zanfar back! When I was still a human, I was deceived into thinking there was such a thing as absolute order! The people in power used that as a tool to get us to do all their dirty work for them…and when we…the soldiers who only knew how to fight…began to question our beliefs…and oppose them…we were pitted against Zanfar…and he saved us…he gave us the chance to exchange our weak human hearts and bodies for stronger demon hearts and bodies! You can badmouth Zanfar all you want…but in the end…he is right. This world holds no value! It is filled with people who only use one another! You have no right to try and change us…to tell us what we should be…WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER US!" Chaos roared.
Zan opened his eyes in shock as the weight of Chaos' pain began to dawn upon him. He hung his head sorrowfully.
"Is this the path you've decided to follow…or are you just clinging to a path I chose for you?" Zan asked Chaos.
Chaos opened his eyes in surprise.
"I thought I told you once before Chaos…I don't care what names humanity may call me…I do whatever I want whenever I want. If I chose the path of destruction, it was because I willed it…and now I've decided to choose the path of humanity! I'M NOT DOING IT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE GOOD OR EVIL! I'M DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S MY CHOICE! SO WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE! WILL YOU KEEP LIVING BY A PRINCIPLE I SET FOR YOU OR WILL YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH! Besides, I refuse to believe anyone who loves RPGs is evil especially if he isn't human! The fact that you love human creations just shows how much you love humanity itself! I won't ask you to put your trust in humanity or believe that they are good because there really are bad people in this world as well but just choose a path you believe in so that at the end of your life you can go with a smile" Zan said.
Chaos stared at him in surprise.
"And if the path I choose is to destroy humanity?" Chaos asked.
"Then I will utterly obliterate you without mercy, then I'll drag your soul from the netherworld and make you play Devils May Die 5 and Breath of Dragons 6 for six years and you know I can do it!" Zan threatened Chaos.
"Hey hey! That's a serious threat don't you know? You may act different but you definitely do talk like Zanfar" Chaos said with a laugh.
"Fine, I'll think on it but I'm not making any promises. Besides, the two of you have indeed succeeded in proving the timelessness of love so there's no point in me making things any more difficult" Chaos sighed.
"And you know that man you met that taught you about love many years ago. I've met him too and today is actually his birthday in the original timeline but…you nicely ruined it" Zan said.
Chaos seemed surprised.
"But I think he'd want you to have this. It was originally a gift I created for Ayu but I think it was meant for you. I'll make another gift for Ayu later…Ayu I hope you'll forgive me this once…" Zan laughed nervously.
"We'll see about that" the two Ayumis said together.
Zan took a deep breath and weaved more versions of himself with musical instruments.
"You guys know the song don't you? Let's sing for this troubled soul" Zan said.
"You got it!" they declared.
The other Zans began to play softly and they began to harmonize. Zan began to sing.
"I recall a very special day in history
Where a star shined so brightly
It was the birth of a wonderful mystery
The day when it all began
A woman rode a donkey
With her faithful husband at her side
She was carrying in her a baby
The one who'd save the whole world
Rejected and abandoned
Left at the mercy of the wind
It looked like no help would come
It looked so utterly hopeless
Now tell me what did you think?
Was it going to be easy as pie?
Carrying more than the world within her
In the womb of a woman, in a cruel world
A star, a storm, a navy night
Though dark it sparkled with a radiant light
That day when the ultimate weapon was born
The day that made all hell's minions mourn
Your life is my life
And my life should give you strength
Oh listen to this song my dearest One
And know that on that day, your life was won
Oh my God
I am here now
I can hear you
I am here now
Oh my God
I am ready
I can hear you
Immanoel
I am singing with the angels
A boundless rhythm
To fill the skies
I am singing with the shepherds
Who await you
With crimson eyes
A glorious day it was,
When they found that lowly manger
The ground was covered in moss
The Birth of that lonely Ranger
Satan tried all sorts of dirty tricks
Killing babies, deceiving kings
But God was with the child all the way
For He was the One, the Holy King Of Kings
Your life is my life
And my life should give you strength
Oh listen to this song my dearest One
And know that on that day, your life was won
It was a day no evil could see
The birth of the mightiest sigil
The dawn of 'God with human beings'
Thus the child was called Immanoel"
Zan sang as strongly as he could. Chaos seemed surprised when the music began, then he seemed to reflect, then he seemed nostalgic and eventually he was in tears.
"I see, so that is what that incomprehensible day meant…wasn't it? It did not mean destruction or bloodshed or the triumph of Zanfar as Ziri thought. It was simply the day of his birth and a prelude to the ultimate defeat of evil. Knowing that…if evil is going to be destroyed in the end, then good will triumph…and if good triumphs, it must mean that humanity isn't all evil. I've decided Zan. I'll return to the Eternal Mirror Gate. There might be a way to defeat Zanfar but I'm not telling you now or it'll be ruined. Maybe…just maybe…the one I really wanted to follow, all of us…maybe it was you…and not Zanfar" Chaos said and stretched his hand to Zan.
"I hope you're not planning to sucker punch me" Zan said with a skeptical look on his face.
"Heh! You saw through that didn't you?" Chaos laughed.
"So you were trying to sucker punch me! That's evil!" Zan declared.
"I do not care whether people call me good or evil. I'll walk the path I believe in…Big Brother" Chaos said and slowly disappeared from feet to head.
Tears flowed down Zan's face.
"Everything will return to the way it was…before. However Zan, you are an unsteady variable in all of this. I cannot guarantee your safe return to the original timeline. Ayumi…I guess I'll help you just a little in the original timeline. It was fun talking to you" Chaos said and tossed the Stone Of Time, a diamond to her.
"You mean psychologically torturing me. I'll definitely repay you and by that time…I'll make sure Shinsei Ryuuenjinn can perform at least five strikes!" Ayumi threatened.
"I look forward to it" Chaos said.
"Stay cool stupid cosplayer!" Zan waved.
"Right back at you moronic otaku" Chaos finally faded away.
After he was gone, the two Ayumis stared at Zan with pleading eyes.
"So what are you going to do now Zan?" Ayumi asked.
"Well…I'm staying in this timeline with Ayumi, the girl I fell in love with. Besides, I've got my own Zanfar to deal with. I intend to protect Ayumi and reunite her with her family eventually. I'm sure your Zan is also waiting for you" Zan said.
"How can you be so sure?" Ayumi asked.
"Because I met him…and he is strong…far stronger than I am. He is the better me, the one you deserve. Just remember your promise" Zan reminded Ayumi.
Ayumi nodded sadly.
Then she slowly began to rise.
"Thank you Ayumi…for watching over me" Zan said with a smile.
Ayumi looked like she could cry at any moment. Then suddenly, a powerful wind swept her away. Ayumi flew through time and space. She shut her eyes tightly and felt herself fall and when she opened her eyes, she found herself on the lawn outside the Kirisawa mansion. It looked as though the party was still going on.
"Could Zan be gone?! I've got to find him!" she said worriedly and raced through the hall, up the stairs and stopped at the door of Zan's room.
She knocked gently but there was no answer.
"Zan! Are you there?!" she banged the door but there was still no answer.
She tried opening it but it was locked. She opened her eyes in shock.
"N-No way! This door has never been locked since Zan came to live here!" she panicked and dropped on her knees sadly.
"No way Zan" she muttered and burst into tears.
As she wept, she noticed loud cheers coming from Ai's bedroom.
"Would it be possible to be with you again?
To see you smile? To hear you laugh?
To hold you close to me?"
Ayumi heard a song she knew and her hopes were raised.
"That's Zan's song!" she exclaimed and rushed towards Ai's bedroom.
"Would it be possible to feel your breath again?
And would it be possible to kiss you once again?"
The song continued. Ayumi reached Ai's bedroom door and flung it open desperately. Ai, Victoria and Face were present with other mates and Zan was in the tux Ayumi had sewn him; singing. He turned to look at her. She looked terrified. Then she covered her eyes with one hand.
"Thank goodness" she said.
Zan noticed her tears and approached. She attempted to hide her tears with both hands. Zan walked to her.
"Hi Ayu" Zan greeted and slowly removed her hands from her face.
"EEEEEEEEEEHHHH?! AYUMI IS…CRYING?!" Zan exclaimed in shock.
"It's your fault idiot!" Ayumi yelled angrily and turned away from him.
"My fault? What have I done wrong?" Zan asked her.
"The fact that you don't even know angers me even more! Idiot! I thought I had lost you…forever!" Ayumi cried.
Zan hugged her from behind.
"I thought I told you…I'm not going anywhere without you" Zan assured her.
Everyone stared at them in surprise.
"Can you really promise that Zan? What makes you so sure that you'll always stay beside me?! What if I end up betraying you?! You are the Dreamweaver and I'm a Dream Knight!" Ayumi yelled angrily.
"Well I don't know about that but what I do know is that I love you so much…it hurts sometimes. I can't say I'm strong enough to withstand any form of betrayal that may arise in the future but what I am sure about is that…I'll never stop loving you. After all;
Girl you are my lunar flower
Dear pretty thing you set my heart on fire
Looking ahead the only thing I see is you
Oh loving you like I'm loving me
When I see your smile, my heart is set ablaze
Like the wind fanning the intense furnace
Looking ahead, I see you are my future
Oh loving you like I'm loving me
The scars of pain I will remove
From your once tainted livelihood
Cos you're not the one feeling despair
When your smile is turned upside down
I want to see you smile again
Like a rainbow across the clear blue sky
It doesn't matter how long I'll wait
Till I can see your smile again
One day, once more
I know we'll be happy
Looking down from mountain tops
Like an eagle atop Mount Everest
Lazing away,
As though we've got all the time in the world
Watching sunsets and an endless spread of lunar wreaths
I'll say it to you, you are my lunar flower
Oh darling girl you are my lunar flower
Dear pretty thing you set my heart on fire
Looking ahead the only thing I see is you
Oh loving you like I'm loving me
When I see your smile my heart is set ablaze
Like the wind fanning the intense furnace
Looking ahead, I see you are my future
Oh loving you like I'm loving me"
Zan serenaded Ayumi in front of everyone and this time, there was laughter but not the mocking laughter of Zan making a fool of himself, but the laughter of happy friends celebrating the love of one of their fellow friends. Ayumi stared at Zan happily. The tears in her eyes became tears of joy. She tried wiping her tears but more tears streamed down. She recalled how Zan took care of her in the altered timeline as Zan kept singing. After the song was over, everyone began to applaud Zan.
"Specially dedicated to Ayumi. Now I want to sing a song specially dedicated to you all…" Zan said and sang the song that warmed Chaos' heart.
"I recall a very special day in history
Where a star shined so brightly
It was the birth of a wonderful mystery
The day when it all began
A woman rode a donkey
With her faithful husband by her side
She was carrying in her a baby
The one who'd save the whole world
Rejected and abandoned
Left at the mercy of the wind
It looked like no help would come
It looked so utterly hopeless
Now tell me what did you think?
Was it going to be easy as pie
Carrying more than the world within her
In the womb of a woman in a cruel world
A star, a storm, a navy night
Though dark it sparkled with a radiant light
That day when the ultimate weapon was born
The day that made all hell's minions mourn
Your life is my life
And my life should give you strength
Oh listen to this song my dearest One
And know that on that day, your life was won
Oh my God
I am here now
I can hear you
I am hear now
Oh my God
I am ready
I can hear you
Immanoel
I am singing with the angels
A boundless rhythm
To fill the skies
I am singing with the shepherds
Who await you
With crimson eyes
A glorious day it was,
When they found that lowly manger
The ground was covered in moss
The Birth of that lonely Ranger
Satan tried all sorts of dirty tricks,
Killing babies, deceiving kings
But God was with the child all the way
For He was the One, the Holy King Of Kings
Your life is my life
And my life should give you strength
Oh listen to this song my dearest One
And know that on that day, your life was won
It was a day no evil could see
The birth of the mightiest sigil
The dawn of 'God with human beings'
Thus the child was called Immanoel"
"Whoo! You're really a great singer Zan!" Ai cheered.
"You should learn a thing or two from him Face!" Victoria criticized Face.
"TCH! Too bad you said that 'cos I personally crafted this for you" Face said as he pulled out a Silver Bracelet.
"Too bad I need to learn from someone else. That means this is rubbish so I'll just toss it somewhere" Face said indifferently.
Victoria looked like she regretted her words.
"C-Can I have it?" she pleaded.
"Why do you want rubbish? Are you a vulture?" Face asked her.
She clenched his ears tightly and pinched them till Face had to beg for mercy.
"Don't make me repeat myself!" she roared angrily.
Ayumi stared at Zan.
"You were the first person outside my family to accept the world I live in without judging me or calling me names…and you've protected me many times. It's my turn now. It's my turn to protect you…even if it turns all the Dream Knights against me but…I still can't tell you the truth…about how I feel about you…or how I've betrayed you Zan…Not yet…Forgive me" Ayumi said silently.