Okay, took an obscene amount of time, but the final part is finally finished. It will have 2 endings that go as follows:
A: This ending will tie into the main storyline of PPGD and Grim Tales as best as I can make it do so.
B: The story of the Chronometals will continue into the next major story; Chronometal Panic.
Enjoy!
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Name: The Chronometal Wars
Chronometal Epilogue: Why is it we Fight?
"A-Are you serious?!" She merely nods, sending a shiver down his spine. "R-Right... we have to warn the people in the bunker! We need to evacuate!" --- "NO! It will destroy the ENTIRE world!" He looks around hysterical and flustered. "Th-Then... we have to go deeper, there is no choice..." She nods. A boy shows up around the corner, looking at no-one but talking to everyone.
"Why fight it..." She looks over and stomps toward him! "How can you say that? This is all we have done to get this far! You of anyone should know that!" --- "I do know that, Bubbles." The boy lets out. "I've fought this thing for what seems like hundreds of years and it’s all ended the same... and now he even has the Ark... whatever hope there was is forever lost." He shakes his head. "Don't even try to talk me out of this state of mind... I'll be somewhere else if you need me... as if that would ever happen." He walks out of the house and doesn't look back.
Bubbles merely looks through her door window as he walks into the almost fully set sun, partially eclipsed by a large yellow portal. "Professor..." --- "I know Bubbles... let's go help the people in the bunker..." She reluctantly rips her gaze from Otto and walks downstairs, into the new bunker set up merely a month ago and they will prepare for the worst... the world is about to end... or worse...
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He looks up at the portal, the closer he gets to it the more unstable he feels. It seems that everything near it is getting distorted and twisted. He notices four lights travel into the portal. He smiles slightly. "I'm happy for them... they still have hope..." The smile recedes as he closes his eyes.
As he stands there in the middle of the road... in the dark... the breeze starts to pick up. Then Otto feels something.
It feels like... sand is blowing on his shoes...
Otto's eyes go wide! "I... I don't think they can win... but...!" He looks at the portal with a single tear growing in his eye. "If the Ark is lost... then there truly will be no hope left! I hope they will win... I... Hope!" He clutches onto new-found reason! "I hope they win!" He points at the maw of the portal- "WIN!"
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Blossom, Dexter, Buttercup and Barasia all float within a matter-less mass of space-time. "I sure hope you are all ready..." Barasia lets out. "We would not have come this far if we were not." Dexter says simply. Blossom shakes her head. "It doesn't matter if we are ready or not! We have to do this- now!" Buttercup looks at all three of her cohorts. "I don't know how this all happened, or how you all knew about exactly what was going to happen... or what is really happening at all. But my sister is going in head first into a battle she said she might not survive. I have no other reason to fight. Let's go!"
The words of the only non-time traveler reach all of their ears and boost their morale slightly. They all fly off toward the brightest part of this space.
As they near it, they notice a lot of lights are coalescing onto one orb-like object far away, as they take glances at the lights as they travel, they notice certain things. Some of the lights have buildings in them, others have people. The farther down they get, they notice people are no longer in the light. They see a jungle... then they see a volcano...
Barasia speaks up- "It seems we are traveling right for the beginning of time." Slight shock crosses Blossom's face- "Wait... don't tell me Mandark is going to destroy the beginning of time?!" Barasia nods. "It is certainly possible." As they look at the lights again, they see starry space, then a coalescing star... and right before they reach the orb... they see only darkness.
As they reach the orb, something emerges from the light.
It is Malignancy.
"So... you have all come." His voice no longer resonates and is on par with everyone else's. "I guess it was inevitable... mankind will never embrace a sinless life and those unable to change will come at their only hope and try to destroy him." He looks in judgment upon the four before him. "Why are you speaking like you are some kind of God, Mandark?!" Dexter yells out. Malignancy lets out an iron smile.
"I guess you all deserve to know... join me, Deedee." --- "What the hell are you talking-" Before Dexter can finish; his armor glows and lets off a divine light! It is blinding and only one of the four can look at the being that is generating the light. "W-What...?" Barasia lets off as the other still shield their eyes. "What?! What is it?!" Dexter yells out, still blinded!
"Dexter... it's... it's Deedee." As those words leave her mouth Dexter un-shields his eyes and looks right into the light! As he gazes he notices his eyes are not hurting anymore. "Dexter..." She lets out simple as the light fades. She floats off toward Malignancy. "Deedee?! Where are you going?! Don't go near him!" He yells out as the rest of the group readjusts their eyes.
Blossom stares at her, mouth agape! Buttercup merely looks at the three others. "Who is... she?" Blossom looks over and says quietly- "That's Dexter's... 'Dead' sister." Buttercup looks over at her. She is wearing a simple white dress and has two divine wings and she is floating closer and closer to Malignancy.
As she nears Malignancy, she then stops and Malignancy floats to her side, as they both look at the four. "Dexter... Blossom... Barasia and Buttercup. We will now tell you all the reason for everything that happened." Deedee nods and looks up at Mandark, who looks back. The lights of time are swaying all around them, rumbling and creating a tense atmosphere.
"As soon as I died..." Mandark stops for a small moment before continuing. "I am not going to mince words. I am here on the will of the All-mighty." Dexter merely stares at Mandark. "All...mighty?" Deedee nods. "God, Dexter... that is why we are both here." As she says this, her divine wings start to flap slightly.
"You were always a man of science, brother... but even you have seen the light, have you not? Set aside the limitations you have put yourself in and listen..." Malignancy follows her words. "Long ago, a man named Micheal started research on time travel... and through tireless work, he was the first to reach this area and laying in it, was the Ark."
He continues. "Simply by discovering the Ark, he set up a chain reaction that would result in Time-Squad's construction... and a paradox loop that leads to him never actually finding the Ark. The result of this was he was always un-naturally hungry for that he could never have, even though he never knew what the Ark was, his very existence reflected his discovery in an alternate dimension."
Deedee picks up his words. "But then, through alternate realities... Time squad was destroyed and the Ark was rendered dormant, but not inactive. Then the now un-powered Ark flew toward a random time-line... This time-line." Mandark carries on.
"The un-powered Ark was the basis of Model M... my base. Although in this time-line, Micheal never truly knew what the Ark was... he could still see its potential and so he went on a search for a source of power for it. A powerful soul..." Malignancy closes his eyes and Deedee places her hand on him. She then looks at the group and continues.
"Susan's soul. Through a long period of uncertainty, Micheal finally found the right soul. With help from you, Barasia." Barasia nods. "I see..." Buttercup looks over to Barasia. "Lynn!? You helped this... THING get created?! How could you?!" Blossom parks herself in between Barasia and Buttercup. "This is not the time or place for that, Buttercup! We have to focus!" Deedee continues.
"With Model M's creation, came Model D's creation. I was to be the catalyst that would either save or doom the planet and all of its inhabitants." --- "Deedee?! What are you talking about?!" She raises her arms as lights dance around her. "Did you not wonder why no matter what you have all done, it all would end the same way? There was a higher power guiding fate itself to this very moment."
"I cannot believe that Deedee! Our fate is our own to choose!" Deedee looks her brother in the eyes. "Dexter, you have always been a man of logic and only believed in what you saw for your own eyes... well look at me, Dexter." Deedee flaps her divine wings as feathers fall beneath her. "I am an extension of his will, as is Malignancy." Dexter's eyes go wide-
"Mandark?! He is here as an... Angel? I will not accept that! He is going to kill everyone! What kind of God would allow his own subordinate do that to his children?!" Deedee closes her eyes as Malignancy speaks.
"Look around you, Dexter." He says simply through a riddle. "What drove us all to this point... other than fate?" --- "YOU DID!" --- "And what am I, Dexter?" As he asks that questions his iron wings extend outward. "I am a machine. Built by Man, as Man has finally mastered the technology to harness their own souls as power. I am the embodiment of pure sin, Dexter. Their sin."
Blossom's face scrunches. "But hasn't humanity has proven time and time again that they can better themselves? Is eradication the only answer for their crimes?! I will not believe that!" Deedee nods. "That is why we are here." --- "W-what?" Blossom stutters out.
"Susan was sent here to end humanity's sin... as was I. Though we have chosen different methods, we are both trying to achieve the same goal. I would side with humanity and give it a light so that they might end all sin and bow before the light of purity... but here we are. Even to the bitter end humanity still clung to sin in their final moments."
Deedee shakes her head, as a lone tear grows in her eye. "I had such faith in it too... but I guess my own people cannot change who they are..." Malignancy floats toward the four in an act of aggression. "So here we are, at the root of all sin. The wheels of fate that create humanity, as well as Sin. With time's destruction, all sin will end and all that will be left is the Lord and his vassals."
Malignancy pauses shortly before the four. "But there was one human pure enough to of cured the world of sin..." He glares at Dexter, who flinches slightly. "Micheal..." He raises his arms. "He called to me and I answered as I knew his intentions were pure... He wished to control all of the world and its people, as to end all strife in the world..." He point at Dexter in judgment-
"But you stopped him, at the end of the First War! With his death his soul was absorbed by the Bio-Simbiote and all of his purity waned... the world had lost its last hope... So now we are here, I did not want it to end this way, Dexter. I truly prayed for humanity." Deedee floats to her brother. "I am sorry Dexter, but I will not abandon you in your final hours! If you think that you can save humanity from its own sin... I will be with you, always!" After those words leave her mouth she floats back into Model D.
Malignancy floats downward to meet the entire crew on an even level. "The time for talk is over. Now it is time for the last of humanity to attempt to repent! Come, heroes, come try to fight fate!"
As he says those words, Barasia takes the Ark out and hands it to Buttercup. "W-What's this?" --- "The key to our survival... I give it to you as you are the only one here with true immortality." --- "What do you want me to do with it...?" --- "Should we die, use it to bring us back!" --- "D-Die?!" She merely nods. "This being is far stronger then any of us, you carry that... It is our only hope." She nods hesitantly. "Okay... just, don't plan on dying too soon!" --- "Haha... I won't, trust me!"
Malignancy rushes at the four, who separate in all four directions- "HYA!" He yells as he lunges a giant spear at Blossom, who barely has enough time to catch it in mid-air and be taken along for the ride! As Dexter rushes for him, Buttercup yells; "LOOK OUT!" Before he can react a giant beam of light impales Dexter! "DEXTER NO!" Blossom yells out as she rushes for him, but he vanishes. "W-What?!" Both Blossom and Buttercup let out, as they notice they are floating in a dark area.
A giant rumbling noise is heard around them as Malignancy rushes right for Blossom! --- "Not today!" Buttercup yells out as she pushes her away and gets crushed by his massive jaws! "Damn you..." He lets out lightly as he spits her out and she almost instantly regenerates. "Not tasty, huh? Well too damn bad!" She yells out as she fires a large green laser at his eyes. "Is that all you got?" He laughs out as he feels no pain from her feeble attack.
"It's not meant to hurt, Man-dork, it's blinding your right eye!" As soon as she says that, Barasia collides into his head, causing the dark world to distort! "Grah... I guess the world of inner sin has no effect on true heroes or robots..." Barasia opens her arm into an arsenal of weapons- "Got that right!" She yells out as bullets fly into every open spot of Malignancy! "DIE!" He extends his arm to Barasia and encircles her with his massive hand!
Right as he is about to crush her, Blossom gets in the way and holds his hand open! "Damn... It... Model... B...!" He grunts as he tries very hard to crush her! Buttercup flies to one of his wings' base and attempts to dislodge it using heat vision! "Annoying gnat!" Malignancy yells as he bats her away, still trying to crush Blossom." As both of his hands are occupied, he hears something above him- "Forget about me, Mandark?!" Dexter yells out, causing 'M' to look up at him!
Dexter was charging a giant attack into his beam saber and he rushes down, causing Malignancy to ignore Buttercup's annoyances and block his attack! The giant beam of energy incinerates a small layer of metal on his arm, but no real damage was done! --- "HA! Is that the best you can- DO!?" He yells out as he lands a direct hit on Dexter, causing blood to fly in all directions!
"DEXTER!" Blossom yells as she squirms from Mandark's grasp and flies off for him! "GOT IT!" Buttercup exclaims as she flies off with one of Malignancy's six wings. Barasia fires at her and steals the wing and with inhuman speed, whips it around as a weapon right into Malignancy's core! The collision shatters the wing and the outer shield of the core, once again revealing the Ark.
"Shut up and die already!" He bellows out as he extends each of his arms at both Barasia and Buttercup! With Barasia in grasp, he squeezes harder and harder! "GAAH!" She sputters out as the very life is squeezed from her! "Ba...ra...sia...!" Buttercup squeaks out as the life from her is constantly ripped out, as her immortality forces her to live!
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Blossom stops Dexter in mid-flight and examines his wounds. His entire face is bleeding and she cannot see past all of the blood and his armor and shattered in several areas and he is unconscious... "Dexter... don't die on me!" She pleads as she shakes his body back and forth. "Your Chronometal is the only hope we have! Don't die on me!"
She shakes his body, as she notices it has gone cold and her face goes pale.
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"D...Damn... It... Sorry, Butter... cup..." Barasia says simply as she goes limp. "NOOOO!" Buttercup screams in protest, unable to do anything to help as Barasia merely lies there, dying or already dead. The brilliant lights flow past them as he tosses her body aside as if it were garbage. Her body floats into the darkness and then it leaves all sight...
"There is no hope for any of you... go silent and accept your judgment!" --- "FUCK YOU, MANDARK!" Buttercup screams out coarsely- "YOU ARE NO GOD! YOU ARE NO PROPHET! YOU ARE AN EVIL BASTARD!" --- "Be quiet!" He yells out as he squeezes her harder, causing her to spit out blood, but she never dies- or goes silent.
"You spout out crap about being this world's only hope and talk about the sins of humanity, as you stand there, crushing a girl to death and torturing another! Then you go and kill people and force others to watch their loved ones and friends die- and you have the nerve to call yourself humanity's only hope?! I HOPE YOU ROT IN HELL!" --- "You understand nothing! You are empowered by the force of pure evil!"
He uses both hands and squeezes harder and harder, causing her bones to constantly shatter and regenerate as she spits out larger amounts of blood and smaller organs! "This... evil... force... is giving me... life... as you... a self proclaimed... messiah... take my life... away!" She smiles through bleeding teeth- "It seems good and evil have... switched sides, don't you think, Monster?!"
"RAAAAAAAGGH!" He bellows out as a sharp pain coarsens through his entire body! He releases Buttercup who quickly regenerates and flies off behind him! "Hey Blossom, good timing... How's... Dexter...?" Blossom never meets her words and instead wears a face of pure rage, digging her Chronometal Saber deep into Malignancy's spine! "YOU... KILLED... HIM!" Blossom screams out as she rips his metal apart!
She discards her saber and starts punching through his armor! "HE'S DEAD! AFTER ALL HE TRIED TO DO! YOU KILLED HIM!" She flies up and tears off one of his wings and flies off. He turns around and looks her in the eyes. "Don't worry, after I am done... he will have never existed to of sinned... or died." --- "He tried to save the world... all of us... and you just killed him...!" She shudders out as she carries a giant wing, looking into his dark metal eyes.
As she says these words, her armor glows as a white aura radiates from it. A timid voice is head coming from the armor. "Susan..." Malignancy's gaze shifts from her eyes to the armor. "I always thought you were a kind-hearted person... but now you seek to end all life, even mine...?" As those words are spoken, a girl of small stature and white hair leave's Model B.
She floats up as the lights around her churn and glow white. "Bell..." He simply lets out. "You were like a brother to me, Susan. I cared for you and I was so upset when you died... but I guess you never thought the same..." --- "Bell, it's not like that... I thought the world of you! You brought me back from the edge of sanity! I owe everything I am to you..."
Bell looks at Malignancy. "Then please stop this... Susan..." --- "I CANNOT! This is humanity's only hope! Without this they will be forever barred from the holy land and wallow in a world of pure sin forever! This is their only chance!" Bell shakes her head. "The only one here who truly understands humanity... is Blossom, someone... who isn't even human- and I shall bestow upon her my power, so that she can stop you!" As those words are spoken she fades back into the armor.
Malignancy merely floats there with artificial tears in his eyes. "I am... so sorry, Bell... I have to do this." He quickly lunges for Blossom! She lets out a large battle-cry and glows white as she swings his wing at his arm, shattering both! "W-What?!" He exclaims as she flies for him and crashes into his core! With new found determination, she digs into the core and reaches for the Ark, but is then torn away by his other arm!
"And with this- the resistance ends!" He yells as he starts squeezing her as well! She resists for a long time before her arms give out and she is completely grasped! "BLOSSOM NO!" Buttercup yells out as she flies for her and tries to unhinge his hand! Blossom is crushed so hard she cannot breathe or speak, but she simply looks into her sister's eyes, as they start forming tears in them. She moves her lips as to say 'sorry' but no voice comes out as her eyes close...
Malignancy floats there, half destroyed with an exposed core and the last Chronometal in his hand- shattered.
"At last... the pain... the suffering can end." He says simply as he releases his grasp on Blossom, who merely floats there in space. He flies off toward the large light orb. "BLOSSOM! SPEAK TO ME!" She says frantically as she jostles her body back and forth! Her entire Chronometal is shattered and pieces are floating around her...
Blossom's eyes remain open though it is clear they no longer hold life. Buttercup merely floats there in the mass-less void, all those around her she loved or cared about are dead. She never lets go of Blossom and simply looks into her lifeless eyes with only sadness to pass hers.
"Buttercup..." A light drawn out voice says. "It is not over... you and I are still left... we cannot let their death be in vain!" A red shade rises from Buttercup and holds a claw to her shoulder. "What is there left to do, Him...?" She lets out, voice quaking and cracking.
(===)
Malignancy observes its shattered body... right arm is completely obliterated and core is gaping open, but still fully functional. Stray electricity flies from the open wires that dangle from the open wounds. "How did she muster such strength... was it...? Bell?" He does not answer his own question and raises his remaining hand to the light sphere that is the root of all time.
His Ark starts glowing as the orb resonates and churns! Within moments it starts cracking and heaving under some strange power.
"MANDARK!" Buttercup screams out. "Again? You want to try to face me again-" Malignancy lets out as he turns around.
Buttercup floats there, unrecognizable from before. She is now a gigantic devil-like life form. She has giant red wings and her eyes are seething with flames. She points a clawed finger at Mandark- "My Immortality is over! But now I have the strength to fight you on equal ground, murderer- AS A MORTAL!" As those words are spoken, she fires for him, only to be blocked by his only remaining hand!
As she pushes forward, his leverage wanes and she starts taking ground! He looks into her eyes and sees that she is not alone- Him's eyes are in there as well, he is no longer a passenger... they are of one entity! Buttercup's hand turns into a giant pincer and she grasps Malignancy's only arm!
"HRAAGH!" She bellows out as she tears it from its socket! "Not so fast, demon!" He yells out as the Ark shines and repels her! "D-Damn it Him, I can't get close!" --- "No... You can- but I cannot. He is using some sort of holy weapon with the Ark! I cannot maintain this form for much longer!" --- "Hopefully, you won’t- NEED TO!" She yells out as she extends her arm right for the Ark and fires a giant red beam!
It only scrapes the Ark but it is enough to cancel the ray and Buttercup flies for it! She mount's Malignancy, now the same size as it and digs her two giant clawed hands into his heart! "N-NO!" He yells in protest, but she gets a good grip and tears the Ark from its socket! As soon as the Ark is removed, Buttercup destroys Malignancy's husk! "NO! NOOooo---" He screams as his voice no longer reaches the Machine.
With Ark in hand, she looks at the Time Orb, which is now on the verge of completely collapsing! "Buttercup, my form is... ending! That attack did more on me then I thought!" --- "It's okay... It's over..." Buttercup shrinks and maintains a brown color for a while, before even it fades and she turns green once more.
She takes the Ark out of her pocket and eyes the two Arks. They look almost exactly the same, but one has a slight indentation on the top and the other has a protruding piece of metal, it seems that they were once one entity. She shakes both of them, but nothing happens. "Damn it! Work, please!" She yells at the metal objects- to no apparent avail.
The orb collapses into itself, as all of the white lights are being sucked into it! "NO! This cannot be happening! I have the Arks... but what now?! WORK DAMN YOU! SAVE THIS WORLD!" She screams at the Arks. "They won't work you know." A familiar voice lets out. "What?! Who said that?" Buttercup asks to the now fading void.
Brilliant lights fly past her vision faster then she can see! "I am still the Ark... and I have won... It's over." The voice vibrates one of the Arks. "Mandark...!" She huffs out, eying the Ark. "It's not over! Now tell me how to work this thing!" --- "Now why would I do that?" --- "I-I don't know! Just... TELL ME!"
Buttercup is so flustered she is making no real sense talking and it causes Mandark to laugh! "No need, Buttercup-" Another voice speaks. The other Ark vibrates from these words. "H-Him?! What are you doing in there?" --- "Barasia was smarter than I thought... this Ark is almost completely un-powered, but she gave it to you... and as I faded from existence, I felt a warm light from this device... It is perfect..."
"You dare disgrace the Ark, Demon?!" Mandark yells out from the left Ark. "My power is returning, even though it was almost all destroyed by the other Ark... Buttercup, attach me to Mandark." --- "W-What?" Buttercup slips out. Darkness begins to encroach on their positions. "F-Fine! You better make this work..." Buttercup takes both of the Arks by the base and attaches them together at corresponding indentations on their tips.
"Okay... now what...?" She says, with no response. "Him, are you there...?" She lets out weakly as darkness consumes everything, what small amounts of light that are left are being swirled into the void as she can only look upon it. "Humans..." The double Ark lets out very faintly. "H-Him?" --- "The fate of... all humans..." --- "...Mandark...?" --- "Should be in their... own hands..." --- "HIM...?!"
The Arks fly out of her hand toward the void and crash into it, causing an ear shattering breaking noise! Buttercup heaves and writhes as she palms her ears closed, yet noise still permeates the area! She forces one of her eyes open through the sharp pains, to see a small light where the Arks once were, but it is not being swallowed by the void... it is just floating there.
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*I was never a hero...*
*I've caused so much destruction... so much death...*
*Why am I alive, if all I bring is suffering...?*
*Deedee... Mandark... heh... Earth...*
*Sin... I guess that's all that's left of me.*
"He tried to save the world, all of us!"
*Blossom...? ... Sorry, but you are wrong, Blossom...*
*But... what is it I was truly fighting for? I don't even know anymore.*
*Was it my hatred for Mandark...? ...No... It wasn't...*
*But... but what was it...? Why was I fighting? What was it...*
*That I... THAT I DIED FOR?!*
"The only one here who truly understands humanity, is Blossom.*
*Bell? Hehe... enemy or no, you are right there... she was...*
*A far better human- and hero than me, that's for sure.*
*She fought for Humanity, for me. For my parents, for her loved ones.*
*Isn't... that what I fought for? ...No... But, why not? Was I not a hero?*
*Who... am I? ...ha... I guess there's only one more person I can ask.*
He opens his eyes to the darkness and goes into a submissive state.
"I... don't do this much, so forgive me if I lack courtesy..." He closes his eyes again and kneels to the ground, which is solid, despite not existing.
His palms are together and his eyes are tightly closed... He is... Praying. For the first real time in his life. He prays and prays, for what seems like hours... then days... then weeks. The darkness around him remains as silent and cold as ever.
"Are you really dead, Dexter?" A familiar voice is heard behind him. As Dexter opens his eyes to the blinding dark, he turns to meet the voice. It is Mandark sitting on a golden throne, in a new Chronometal. The Chronometal looks exactly as it did at the crash at the end of the first war... The perfect Model M. "Mandark..." He scowls plainly. Mandark raises his arms to address the nothingness he wrought. "Look around you, Dexter. There is nothing. You failed."
Dexter's eyes tense. "Yeah, well... you didn't exactly play fair." Mandark smiles wryly. "Fair? I was simply a machine built by man, as were your Chronometals." Dexter raises an eyebrow. "Was...?" Mandark nods as he nears his palm to his face, now in a new Deep Gold Chronometal. "You and I are of the same again, Dexter." --- "Of the... Same?" He asks.
Mandark nods again. "Human, Dexter." He rises from his similarly colored throne. "Wait, how can you have a Chronometal? Whose soul is powering it?" --- "My own." He states simply, walking down. "But, that's not possible! You are alive!" --- "As are you." --- "My Chronometal isn't powered by my own soul!" --- "Yes it is." Dexter goes silent for a while, after he says that and fully leaves the throne, only a few yards away from him.
"But... Deedee?" --- "She isn't here anymore, Dexter. She is dead, only we are left." Mandark nods and eyes Dexter. "I have Chronometal model Mandark and you have Chronometal model Dexter!" He points at Dexter, who looks at himself, noticing his Chronometal is different!
It’s a deep silver color, yet it still feels and looks exactly like Model D. "What's going on...?" Dexter lets out flatly. Mandark looks up at the darkness. "Him... He destroyed the Arks and brought us all back to life. But I had one trick left too." He smiles slightly as his head returns from his gaze into the shadowy heavens. "As his Ark created life, I bound mine to all of their souls- and yours. Should you die, they die and they will remain here as I regain my power to destroy what's left of time."
Dexter grasps his saber and looks Mandark in the eyes. "So, it's not over yet, huh?" Mandark stops smiling and simply looks at Dexter. "W-What is it, Mandark?" Mandark cocks his head a little, before smiling slightly. "It's... just..." He laughs quietly as Dexter activates his D-Saber. "Why do you want to kill me Dexter?" --- "I don't." Mandark nods. "Well then, why do you HAVE to kill me, Dexter?"
"To save the world." Mandark shakes his head. "That's... not what you feel you need to do." Dexter squints as he points his saber at Mandark at eye level. "No, it's not. Is it? Honestly, I don't know why I need to kill you." Mandark nods again. "Not even you know why it is you fight... yet fight you do." --- "I have no choice." --- "Don't you? You can let me enact my plan to save humanity." He shakes his head angrily. "I... can't let you do that."
Mandark raises an eyebrow as his golden armor shines slightly. "You don't fight for the world... you don't fight for yourself... and you certainly don't fight for humanity. Dexter. What is it you fight for?" Dexter remains silent, sword drawn at him. "Perhaps, it is for your own twisted sense of justice?" Dexter shakes his head and Mandark continues.
"What then? Who... then?" Dexter relents his blade as he looks downward at the endless dark. "Who...?" He says simply as Mandark strains to hear him. Dexter closes his eyes and smiles. He looks back at Mandark, with a somber smile on his face. He raises his weapons to a combat stance, still smiling slightly. "I fight... For Blossom." Mandark wears a plain expression. "How obvious... how didn't I think of it befo-" --- "And I fight for you, Mandark."
Mandark's body stays in the same position for a while before he relents it and looks at Dexter. "For... me?" He shakes his head and continues. "But that doesn't make sense, Dexter. I am your enemy, we are bound by fate to end one another." --- "I hate fate... Why can't we all live together, happily?" Mandark gazes at Dexter. "If I was not mistaken, I offered you the branch and you set it aflame." --- "I am a new man, Susan. This war has given me the better portion of a century to think about the things I've done and the people I've hurt and what I truly want."
Still in a battle position, he continues. "I am no hero, Mandark. But I am no villain and I am only human. I've sinned, that much is indisputable. But can I not repent? Is my fate truly to die here as you end all life? Or can we start over, as friends, in a new world, not bound by... by fate?" Mandark smiles warmly. "Dexter... I..." He stutters out before the expression leaves his face.
"I... Cannot accept." --- "I thought as much..." Dexter quietly speaks as he maintains a battle stance. "I never thought I would see the day where you would seek my forgiveness Dexter... I will... remember it forever, even after my job is done." Dexter sighs slightly.
Mandark extends his hand to his side and a Giant golden lance flies from the darkness into his grip. "If things were different... if WE were different... different people... different times, places... we could exist together. But everything that ever was willed that we be enemies for all eternity, Dexter. And now there is only one thing either of us can do... we can fight, for what we think is right." He points his lance at Dexter at eye level, meeting his saber.
"This is not a battle of right and wrong. This is not a grudge match. This is not a fight between enemies. This is fate. To fight fate is to fight all things. Yet fight we must." Mandark says poetically as he looks Dexter in the eyes.
... ... ... ... ...
He rushes to Dexter, who quickly flies backwards, avoiding his lance. Mandark fires at him while he is in mid-air and lunges as his heart, but he defends with his saber! He eventually grounds himself and slashes the lance away, only to have it whip back and bluntly strike the side of his head, sending him flying away- painfully.
Mandark Jumps into the darkness and fades away- leaving Dexter stumbling back onto his feet, disoriented by the harsh blow. Before he can realize that Mandark is gone, he emerges from the shade, directly above him!
Dexter fumbles as he tries to dodge his many attacks, getting hit by many and dodging only a few. "Dammit- How are you so fa-" He tries to say as Mandark lays a sucker punch to his jaw! Dexter spins from the sheer impact. "Dexter. Every time we have fought it has been an unfair fight- to me. You always had Blossom by your side- and recently, even the Black Mother! But now we are alone; and you see my true strength!"
Mandark yells out a battle cry as he jets to Dexter, landing attack after attack as blood falls into the endless dark. For each time he is knocked down, he attempts to stumble back to his feet, only to be struck down again.
The sounds of Dexter crying out in pain and Mandark yelling out are heard relentlessly through the black nothingness.
Hours go by and the void is replaced with floating globules of blood...
Finally, Mandark stops his attacks. Dexter; with barely enough energy left to cough blood merely lay there, dying. Mandark looks down on the shell of a 'hero' with no emotion on his face.
"I’d be lying if I said I wasn't hesitant to kill you, Dexter, especially since I know you have changed... but this is what I must do." Dexter merely spits up blood, seemingly unconscious. Mandark approaches him and raises his lance to rest just above his chest. Dexter's eyes open slightly, looking into his eyes.
"Man... da-CAW*" He tries to say as he coughs up blood. "...ster..." A faint voice speaks through the void. "Dexter..." The voice continues, as Mandark relents, looking for its origin. A blue haired man appears from the shadows and looks at Mandark, as he looks back- angrily. "You...!" Mandark seethes!
The man merely smiles as two other people emerge from the shade. "Been a while, eh?" --- "How?! Phantom killed you all!" A woman at the man's side speaks up. "Killed us? Not quite. We would have died were it not for the Ark and a brave young man." Yet another Man, aside them both speaks as well. "He saved us and brought us here to settle the score between you and all of humanity!"
Mandark completely disregards Dexter's body and points his lance at the three. "I will admit, I never thought humans could become as strong as you guys did that day in Megaville. Without Chronometals or even Biosymbiotes no less." --- "Enough of the pleasantries- you die this day, M!"
Mandark fires off at the three, two of which disperse, but one actually charges at him! He produces a mechanical looking sword and meets the tip of Mandark's lance and does not lose any ground- regardless of how much stronger Mandark is than him. Neither waste time taunting nor gloating as they continue to furiously trade blows! Even though he is pure human- with no super powers, he does not flinch as he is struck by Mandark!
"Hyaa!" A loud female voice yells as many brightly colored projectiles are launched at Mandark from her giant gun! "D-Damn!" Mandark yells as he tries to avoid the attacks, only to be met with the second man as he crashes down with a giant hammer! It lands true but Mandark has enough traction to recover without ever hitting the ground. He flies backwards, only to have the two Men charge right for him!
The leader's swift sword lands many strikes as the other man's hammer turns into a giant claw and grabs onto Mandark! "GAME OVER!" The leader yells as he lunges his blade into Mandark's chest! The woman comes running over- only to have the leader fly off into her! "Game over indeed..." Mandark taunts, blood dripping down his torso. He grabs onto the claw and tears it off- and then he punches the man back.
He rips the sword out and then uses it to block the oncoming barrage of bullets! After the volley ends he whips it to her! "A-AH!" She screams as it impales her chest! "LIDIA!" The leader yells! He runs to her as Mandark laughs- "PATHETIC SINNERS!!!" He bellows as his lance rises from the darkness to strike him in the heart!
As the leader slumps to the ground, Mandark kneels down in pain, blood pouring from his chest. The third member rushes for Mandark, who attempts to punch him, only to be dodged as he gets behind him! "Let's see how you like this..." He lets out as he digs his arm into Mandark's wound! "HRAAAAAHHHHH!" Mandark roars out in pain, right before he backhands the man off of him!
He sprints to him as he attempts to recover his bearings, only to have Mandark's claws dig into his neck and slam his head into the ground over and over again! "DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!!!" He explodes out with as he slashes his face to the extent of severing his jaw and making it slide across the ground, right before he caves his skull in with his fist!
Mandark's face is one of pure rage! His fangs are fully extended as his eyes lose their color and he loses all sight of morality as he continues to shred his corpse! Blood sprays everywhere as he ravages his body. Mandark rises from the blood, holding his chest.
"D-Damn it... Ha...Ha... I don't think I'm going to... make it...!" He blubbers out as blood spills from his newly hallowed chest.
"No. You won't." Dexter says as he fills that hole with his saber. Mandark looks down to see the weapon's tip and smiles slightly. "I guess... That's fate for you..." Mandark says plainly, right before Dexter flares his Saber, causing it to explode in all directions and flash Mandark's body to a crisp...
Mandark's body slumps to the ground as Dexter falls to his knees with a small frown on his still battered and bloody face. He looks at the three bodies. "Who... were you guys?" He pauses for a moment, taking the whole situation in. "Well... thank you... all of you..." He says right before collapsing to the ground, exhausted.
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I will post final remarks after the ending- read on.