//------------------------------// // Chapter 35 All Bets Are In! // Story: Warframe: Relic Hunters // by UnknownEntity743 //------------------------------// Warframe: Relic Hunters Chapter 35 All Bets Are In! *Location: Relic Hunters' HQ, Lounge, 1 Month Later* Excalibur's POV Peace....Funny, I remembered days when that was always a given right, before all the chaos, the experiments, the accident, the death. Tenno, masters of gun and blade, we held hope for those who would follow us, into a world without wars and bloodshed, its something that has many meanings, many Tenno have fallen by those words, others to insanity. Then there's us. My team, we were ones who could fight a heavy battle, and still manage to shed laughter the next day, like it was all just a bad dream....in only.... "Hey? What's wrong?" That's when I came back to reality, as I looked to my left, towards the one girl who not only shared my pain, but showed me that I wasn't a machine "I'm fine....just thinking...." I answered, but then I saw the smirked cross her face "You? Thinking?" She joked, as I gave her a stare "Ha. Ha." and at that she laughed, and to be honest, it was the greatest sound in the world, besides Oberon's pain, now that was a riot. Then I hugged her close to me, letting my worries drop. "Well, I just can't help but think, after everything that's happened, all the people we've lost...." "Cal...?" Skyler frowned, as I felt her hug me in return, resting her head on my shoulder as I sighed. "I know....I don't want to believe they're gone, but, I don't want to see you upset by it...." "Yeah....I guess that's why I love spending time away from my Warframe," It was true, Ive grown used to not having it around me all the time, and I guess two things are responsible for that. "I feel relaxed, my 'Incarnate' side is less of an issue, and you know what tops it all off?" "Wha-" Ha, payback's a bitch! At my action, I felt Skyler melt into the kiss, as I held her for a few, precious seconds before pulling away, only to note her red face as I smirked "Nailed it." I grinned, only to earn a pout from her, that is, until we both heard what sounded like sobbing....oh no, here come the second reason for my lack of Warframe "Brother~" Yep, my sister, in another emotional mood swing, as she hooked her arms around my neck, her head slouching on my head. "I'm bored~" "And that's my problem, how?" I questioned, as I felt the urge to kick Nekros in the balls once I'm in the afterlife for leaving me with this problem-slash-joy. "I can't see a hyperactive girl, with the agility of a cheetah getting bored. And ive talked with Pinkie!" "I don't know....Entertain me!?" She complained, but before either me or Skyler could retort, my lord and savor grabbed the emotional-train-wreck from behind, Ivara. "No! You won't take me alive!" "I wish that were the case, but I'm more afraid about what Cal would do if I did, also, sorry. I've been trying to keep her emotions in check, but...." Ivara sighed, as she dragged my sister away, before shaking her head. "Remind me not to get knocked up by any of these guys?" "Noted." I replied, then I glanced back to Skyler, as she flicked on the monitor, as it settled on the news channel, to which I listened intently, mainly due to Titania and Nidus being on-screen "~So tell me, do you believe that these gang attacks have increased dramatically, ever since the 'Relic Hunter' took up residence here?" The reported asked Titania, as Nidus kept close to her, more because of the fans behind the police barricade As it turns out, since a whole meeting with Lotus and the government, my clan had become a major headline for news reports, fan bases, and even to the Origin System, back home. Titania was one of the more popular ones from our group, due to her innocent charm, and iron resolve in battle, in a way. She inspired alot of people to be like her. "Umm, well...no, alot of them believe we aren't going to take action against small threats like this, but if we didn't, then it wouldn't be right, just because we deal with large threats, doesn't mean we shouldn't care for every person, that's what I believe." Titania answered, as I couldn't help but smile "She really had turned out like Valkyr, with the resolve of Nekros, quite the combo." I commented, as Skyler poked me "Don't forget her over-protective partner." At that, I saw Nidus growl at some of the people behind the line, as they tried to break through, to which Titania replied harshly "Nidus...don't hurt them, they won't hurt me." Titania called, as the Tenno turned to her, obviously telling her something, before she shook her head. "Sorry about that, he means well." "It quite alright, now, if you wouldn't mind, could I ask you some more-" but before she could finish her sentence, the screen seemed to freeze, as static covered the screen, to which I groaned "I swear, if Loki decided to pull another trick, I'll send him to hell myself...." I muttered, that is, until the screen finally reappeared, but my heart froze at the sight before me, as my eyes seemed to widen at the sight before me....I....It can't be! H-How!? "N-No way...." Skyler shared my disbelief, as we heard a bunch of people enter the room "You got to be joking! Not him again!" I heard Rhino bark in shock, as Ember, Frost, Atlas, Loki, and Mag followed after him, but I wasn't listening, as I slowly rose to my feet, my eyes glued to the man, the monster before me. "Excalibur?" "Excalibur....you're judgement is yet to be tested. If you wish to save this world. It people like you claim. Then meet me where we began. If not....then my shadows will undo your peace, and scatter the remains." Stalker spoke coldly, his voice vastly different, like he wasn't himself anymore, but I still trembled at the sight He stood at CHS, atop the broken statue with his red exalted blade, licking the stone's base with a menacing glow, and in the same instance, more shadows appeared, all similar to Stalker, twisted versions of our Warframes. "As you can see, they are what hides in every one of us, the truth of our power, that which you stole." Stalker continued, before pointing his blade at the camera. "Bring only those that dare to resist their nature, or else." And in a flash, the screen had turned to black, leaving us all in a state of shock and despair, and I...I couldn't comprehend it, I saw him die....I killed him with my own hands, and yet....and yet..... At the sound of my angered foot smashing into the metal floor, everyone turned to me, my body seeping with blue, as I held my anger in check, all looking concerned for me, especially Skyler, but I forced a smile onto my face, as I turned to my team, my friends. "Guys...I...don't know what to say, my mind can't comprehend any of this, I don't want to believe that this is real, and that everything we've done together was pointless." I began, I knew I couldn't convince them, but I'll be dammed if I fail Prime now, I wasn't going to let this beat me! "Since day one, I've gone with the flow, as I pieced my team back together, all that mattered to me was leaving this world, and never looking back....but then, I saw that this world was in ruin, because of us, our war became theirs, and that's when I realized it." I paused at the looks on my team's faces, as more entered the room, all wanting to hear my pathetic rally "Since the first time I met everyone here, they showed me something that we all forgot long ago, something that we lost to the years, peace, happiness. And after everything that's happened, after all the pain! And the heartache! We kept moving forward, we freed each other, we found bonds between us that ignited something we lost decades ago!" I didn't know where I was going with this, and frankly I didn't care, if Prime were here, he would always speak what he knew, despite how crazy his speeches were. "And now? After everything Nekros did for us! What Volt, Trinity, Prime did for us all! I will not let there deaths mean nothing! I don't care if I die here, cause if it means that others can live in a world, free from war and bloodshed, then I'll take every painful strike a thousand times over if it means that this pointless war can end!" At that I paused, focusing on my transference link, and in a quick flash, I dawned my master's armour once more "I'm a Tenno, master of gun and blade! And I'll keep moving towards a tomorrow that is free!" with that, I ignited my own Exalted Blade, the white and blue energy crackling in the room around us, and to my clan, as I saw Frost walk up to me, his Warframe's head nodding "I'll follow you to the end, my friend." He bowed, as he pulled out a Sibear He was then followed by Loki, his akbolto at the ready. "You've been a blast to hang with! Like i'll let you take all the fun this time!" Next was Mesa, as she twirled her akvasto prime around. "I'm armed and ready, mate!" "I swear, you're way of thinking has always baffled me." I heard Limbo speak up, as he held his Destreza like a true master. "But I believe that Nekros once said it was what made you 'interesting'." At first, I didn't think that anyone would take Nekros' place, he was someone else entirely, but to my surprise, and everyone else's, I stared at the Reaper Prime, gripped in my sister's clawed hand. "Valkyr, I-" But she held her hand out, her mask looking at me evenly "I know, I shouldn't be fighting, but....I don't want to watch the last of my family die in front of me, not again...." At that, I saw her hand tremble, but I gently grabbed it, as she looked up at me "And you won't....You always were stronger than us both, just...be careful." I answered softly, as she nodded, holding the scythe tightly in her hand, then the last to approach, the one that would fight the shadow Valkyr, was the one person who changed my life "If you think i'll let you die on me again, then you're wrong!" Sky snapped at me with the same glare she used on the day with confronted each other, to which, it was completely erased by her smirking. "I was the leader of my own squad after all." "Hence why I won't question your decision," At that, she nodded, but I pulled her back to face me, as I pulled her into a hug, I felt my heart race at the grim thoughts that plagued my mind, but I knew that only one of us had to die today, so I handed her my Skana Prime, as she looked at me with surprise. "Just keep your blade sharp." "Roger that." She nodded, as I looked to everyone, as I gave my final line, and I hope to god it won't be their last either "Alright...On this day, in the name of freedom, we'll take the fight to them! To all that stand against us! We're going to show everyone who we are, and why were here!!!" I yelled for all of them to hear, to which, I was given one last response, one that erased all doubt in my fractured mind "YEAH!!!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At first, I had my doubts about this entire ordeal, I still do to some extent, I watched as someone close to me died, someone I trusted in the past bleed out, the world saw him fall. So why is he here? These thoughts plagued my mind as my team approached the high school, to think, it all started here... But my time to reminiscence on the past was cut short, as we stood before the acolytes of Stalker, all holding twisted versions of Tenno weaponry, I couldn't even recognize them. That's when my eyes moved from the distant crowd among the streets, and to the monster himself, his flickering blade still lit, how? I don't know. "I'm surprised you came, after what transpired the last time?" He questioned, as I kept my gaze to him, that's when the acolytes moved in, blocking our path to their leader. "Your acceptance is noted, you didn't really think it would be so simple, did you?" "If it was, I would have come alone." I answered, my glare behind my helmet never faulting from his own, then Valkyr spoke up "What are you even hoping to get from this? Needless violence was never your style, before and after what you did!" That was something we both agreed on, then I heard the Shadow Nekros chuckle "Coming from the brat that loved a apathetic sociopath? That's rich!" He chuckled darkly, as I held Valkyr's shoulder, before she could lose it completely, which was 'very' difficult "I'll tear your tongue out for that!" She hissed, almost releasing Hysteria off that bat, then Stalker spoke up "Get through your sins, then you'll fight me, and if you lose..." He trailed off, as he swung his crimson blade into the side of CHS, the void energy making quick work of the corner-roof. "I'll tear this town apart, hunting down you Tenno one-by-one." "Quick! We must get Excalibur through!" Frost declared, as the others nodded, but before I could even make a step, I saw the raised scythe above my head, to which my legs froze from the trauma "Got you now, worm!" Shadow Nekros screamed, only for his body to phase right through my own, as I felt a familiar energy pass through my body, to which I looked to Limbo "I suggest this would be the time to run!" He called, trying to hold the rift around the acolyte swung madly to break free, but I wasted no time, as I broke into a sprint towards Stalker My momentum was nearly diced, as I slid beneath the claws of the enraged Shadow Valkyr, as she swung her claws frantically, but a familiar skana blocked her assault, as Skyler quickly elbowed her in the face, her bladed arm scraping the helmet. I quickly noticed Frost, as I ran towards him, to which he quickly reacted by swing his Sibear in an arc, as it collided with the teleporting Shadow Loki's chest, sending him flying. He then held his hand out for me, as I grabbed it, to which he swung me in one fell swoop into the air. My next target, was the Shadow Limbo and Mesa, but I swiftly lifted my hand into the sky above, blinding them both in flash of void light, to which I roundhouse kicked Limbo, followed by swinging my Lex Prime out, and blasting Mesa with the force of an anti-tank rifle. As my body flew past them, I saw Mesa jump towards me, as she flipped upside-down midair, as my feet connected with her, as she flung me forwards to increase my momentum. My next distraction, was the massive wall of black ice that formed before me, but I carefully braced myself, as I saw Valkyr's shred the frozen wall into fragments, as she grabbed my arm, and flung me towards Stalker, my fist now raised. "Bite this!" I snapped, as my fist made contact with his helmet, sending him creaming into the slabs ahead, as my feet screeched to a halt on the tile, leaving behind smoke from the friction, and now....It was between us "So...you still manage to exceed my expectations, impressive." Stalker spoke with a grunt, as he calmly lifted himself off the ground, as he grabbed his Exalted blade from the concrete. "But I believe we've talked long-" "Cut the crap, I know Stalker....and whoever you are, you better give me a reason for all of this." I answered sternly, as he seemed to not even be phased by my remark....to which it dawned on me, I knew him. "Why are you here, Hunhow?" "Isn't that obvious? The primes had past on, their legacy was meant to be snuffed out, and then....you returned, dawning gold and white like a god among your own, providing something that the Tenno lost eons ago. Hope." He answered, as I held my ground to his movements, not wanting to be taken by surprised again "And so....you used Stalker's legacy as a catalyst, driving those who had long forgotten what it means to be a Tenno, into your plan. Is that about right?" I asked him calmly, as he nodded once "My Shadow hesitated, despite his lust to cleanse his despair, but you, above all the hate and despair for those you lost, you held your own humanity for so long. I only want a chance to make it end, for the system, and the children." Hunhow answered, as I read his words carefully, to which he held his blade down, looking right at me. "Will you deny those who drown in the void of loss, a chance at peace?" . . . . Peace . . . . "Your right," I answered after a moment, as I saw his head look towards me again, only for me to hold my arm high, as I felt the rust of void flow like a river through my hand, as it glowed as bright as a nova, to which my blade, my soul formed. "But if i'll be the one who will take their pain, their sins, and bare them myself for their peace!" ". . . . Then all I have to say is . . . . goodbye..." Hunhow spoke coldly, his voice distorting with an evil intent, as I felt voices reach out to me for one final time "You got this, Bro!" Valkyr "Let 'er rip." Nekros "Show him a God!" Rhino "Never let your past define you." Prime (FINAL SHOWDOWN MUSIC) In a flash, we clashed in a massive blast of blue and red, the resulting impact igniting the ground around us in purple flames of energy, as we threw every unrelenting hit towards each other, our blades sending shockwaves to shatter glass through the air, each hit missing us both my inches. "I'm giving you freedom!" Hunhow screamed, as I felt my side flare with the raw emotion of rage, as I rolled across the floor, avoiding his massive arcs, as the sent a wave of crimson through the ground like an earthquake, but I rose to my feet, as I swung my blade around, clashing with his again, but I used by left hand, and fired a pulse of pure energy into his chest, sending the Sentient flying "You're nothing but a killer!" I countered, as my eyes nearly ran from their sockets, as I ducked from the blade behind me, as I saw Hunhow circle around me as a bolt of red lightning, as I continued to follow his movements carefully, as he swung down from my left, as I back flipped with one hand, avoiding his strike He was quick to act, as I saw his body flash to my left, as he kicked me in my side, then he rushed above me, axe-kicking me into the stone, but I turned to deliver an uppercut to his jaw, sending him into the grass, which proceeded to burn with crimson flames, as blue danced around me. "Come and get me." I taunted, as he responded by doing something unthinkable, multiple copies of Exalted blade appeared before me, all pointed towards me as I rolled to the left, as one embedded itself in the concrete, followed by another to my right, which I ducked backwards, one did snag my shin, but I cartwheeled from two more Then my face met the dirt, as he plunged my head into the soil with his right hand, and he didn't stop there, as he pulled me up the wall of the building, before trailing me along like meat on a chopping block, as sparks flew in my vision, as I felt the metal rise in heat. But I instinctively latched my legs around the back of his head, before smashing into own face into the brick. He tried to move free, but I jumped from the wall, my legs pulling him head first with me, as I smashed his torso into the dirt, to which I grabbed his neck, throwing him into the air as I left behind a nice 'X' on his back, the scorches leaving a blue trail behind. But I narrowly avoided his own blade leaving a nasty mark on my left arm, as it burned through my armour. I reacted by swinging my blade in an arc, sending a crescent of energy towards him, only for Hunhow to mimic me as our two resulting forces erupted at the center, sending us both flying. I landed on the wall of CHS, as I rolled across the wall, avoiding three rapid spins from Hunhow, as I kicked his arm up, before lashing into his exposed chest, leaving a mark of blue as he retreated, landing atop the roof. "Weak...very weak..." Hunhow spoke, but I wasn't going to have any of it So I blasted towards him, before charging more energy into my blade, to the point of complete white, as I struck down on his open chest, the combination ended with a sonic boom that shattered every window in the area, as car alarms rang out from the explosion of pure force. But my eyes could only stare in shock, as my blade shattered before me, the feedback was unbearable, as I yelled in agony, both my arms shattered, the armour nearly flying off, as I held them close to my chest, thankfully not broken, but the pain was down right monumental. "I won't stand for your insolence." Hunhow added, as he grabbed me by my face, cracking the helmet in his grasp, which glowed red with power, as it burned my vision, then the world around me froze, all I could do, was stare down at my stomach, at the crimson blade that pierced its golden armour like a hot knife I felt no pain, only a hollow emptiness consume that part of my body, no words could comprehend the feeling of voidless pain. But I looked right at Hunhow, as I gritted my teeth in resistance, ignoring my body's screams to end it. That's when I grabbed his face, pushing back with all the force I could muster. "Not yet..." I groaned, before he grabbed my hand, twisting it away from his face, then he grabbed his blade, and kicked me towards the ground below with a simple heave of his foot. To which my back sent an electrified pulse to my nerves, as I chocked on my scream At this point, my body gave in, as I laid on my back in defeat, as I tried to move my arms, but the pressure of Hunhow landing on top of me cut my action off, as he balled his hands up, to which he began to dig his fists into my fractured face. "You are not worthy of that armour!" He snapped, as I felt something rise in my mind as he said that, a rage of war and blood lust, as he repetitively struck my face, that's when my actions awoke My right arm latched onto his face, halting his movements, as he grabbed my own face, as I pushed in off my body, steadily rising to my feet, as I watched the blood leak from my wounds. "I won't stand for it..." I muttered, as he kicked me in the stomach, then he did it again with his fist as I fell back, but I stood my ground, grabbing his arm and pulling him forward, before smashing my fist into his twisted mask, which sent him back a few feet As he stumbled, he faced me again, before charging with is fist again, letting out a battle cry, but I held my own fist out, as we clashed, but my arm never broke, as he pulled his own arm back from the contact, it actually hurt him. "N-No...!" He stuttered, as I approached him, blue energy beginning to leak from my body "There is always someone like you, who want's to destroy the world!" I snapped at him, before giving him a left hook, which sent him flying. "Always forcing you're ideals on everyone else! Like pawns!" He tried to stand, but his own legs gave up from under him, as he stared back at me in what I could only describe as utter shock....and fear. "H-How are you s-so powerful?" He asked me, as I gave him his answer, as another uppercut caused his body to roll back in shock, and imbalance "Because I'm pissed off!" I spat at him, as he grunted, moving to his feet, his knees bent to support his shaking body "I-I am you-your master!" He roared, as I watched his body rise with power, as he held his fist close to his side, before he finally charged at me again, before his fist smashed into my chest, as the force of a shotgun shot through my being, but I held firm, as I grabbed his arm, twisting it before I snapped in two "That's why...." I began as he held his arm in pain, the joint completely shattered, as I threw another punch at him. "I have no masters!" My fist made contact with his chest, as I swore his eyes widened from within, as I held him up on my fist, as I yelled in his face, my left arm balled up. "Nor will I be the master of others!" And in that instance, I punched him back onto his feet, his balance slipping, as he tried to focus, but my fist glowed bright, as I my mind brought forth everyone to my eyes, as I sighed. "But....above all else..." "I will never...forgive you..for make my friends suffer!!!" I screamed, as I smashed my left fist into his chest, shattering the armour into shards, as they fell from their resting place, as Hunhow flew towards the statue again, smashing on the other side of its base After the massive blow, I walked towards the street, as I saw my team watching in both shock and hope, as I approach Hunhow, now standing in a wobbling state, obviously defeated now. "This is not how it was suppose to be...." He gasped, but I didn't care, I had a chance to end this, I was going to take it, so I took every ounce of my energy, as I built its epicenter into my arm, as the blue light glowed through the cracks in my shattered arm, then I glared daggers at Hunhow "This is your end! To stupid, destroyer wannabe!" and with that, I ran towards the now defeated destroyer, fully confident I could end this here and now "Wait!" That voice! I stopped dead in my tracks, as I looked back at the blue-haired girl, Skyler, her eyes filled with terror and sadness that Ive never seen since the last fight between me and Stalker. "If...if you do this, you'll use up the last of your energy....without it....you...." She froze at her own words, as I stared back at her through my helmet. "You can't survive, not with those injuries..." I knew that....and I couldn't help but smile at her, not that she could see my happiness I had for her. To me, she was everything Ive fought for, even before I met her....and I'll do anything to protect her....and besides....I'm can't never keep promises. "But..." and at that, the last of my energy entered my fist, the light in the rest of my armour fading away. "...You will live." And with that, I played my final card. My finale hand. "EXCALIBUR!!!" I let out the biggest war cry I could muster, as my fist smashed into Hunhow's face, as i poured every ounce of energy into his face, every fragment of pain, anger, sadness, regret. All of it, into this final act of resistance against his kind, and the world that rejected me. *POW* And in that final instance, his face broke in two, as he stumbled back in a flash of black and red, as his face burst with energy, before he fell to his knees....and in that motion, his entire body erupted into a blast of red and black, sending his body to the winds one final time. . . . . Silence, that's all I heard, not because everyone was processing the victory to themselves, but because I couldn't hear them. I tried, but I could only watch as my vision turned towards the sky above, rays of gold and blue reached me, as I saw the dots enter my vision. Along with two others. My sister, now trying desperately to call out to me, but I heard nothing but white noise. And Sky....her face contorted with pain and broken emotions I could only describe as, heartbroken, as he seemed to speak 3 final words to me, before my vision, followed after.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ok....what am I staring at? I was awake, but at the same time, it was an entirely new world, one of pure white, and it almost hurt to look as my eyes adjusted to its setting, but yeah....a white hall, resembling that of my clan hub, only... "My clan hall is clean?" I pondered, as I heard a modest voice chuckle at my words "Well now, who's fault is that?" no! I-it can't be....but there he was....in his armour once more, helmet under his arm, as his hazel eyes stared at me, with a small smile. "Then again, you were quite lazy!" "P-Prime!?" I gasped in utter joy, as I stared blankly at him, then I pointed from him, to the room around us. "Am I dead?" "Well you gave it your best shot, per usual." Another familiar voice added from right behind me, as I jumped back to face his steel eyes, a frown still upon his face "Nekros!" I laughed in sheer bliss, as he looked at himself "Last I checked." He added, to which I calmly sighed, warily smiling at them "I guess I did it, I finally met my maker....some prime I am, huh?" I shrugged, but then I punch to the back of my head snapped my attention away. "Ow! dammit!" "As always, you are an idiot who punches his problems away...." ...no....No! How is 'he' here!? "You!" I glared harshly at the finally arrival, as he stared at me with a bored expression. "Stalker...." "Oh look, he remembers, surprise...." yeah, fuck you two pal... "Ok-Ok, you said I 'gave it my best shot', why? Where are we?" I asked in irritation, ignoring that fact that my worst enemy was standing here, that's when Prime spoke up "I don't have alot of time, so I'll make this quick, we are in the divide between life and death, this something that can only happen in the most random of chances, not rare, but not common either. That's where you come in." Prime spoke, as I looked to Nekros "So, why are you here?" I asked, as he pointed to Stalker "Same reason he is, to help you choose, since you lack that part of your brain." Nekros answered, as I gave him a deadpan stare. "You can't reject the truth." "Anyways, you're decision is simple, you must decide which matters most to you," Stalker began, as I looked to him. "You have done nothing but fight, shedding blood for others, people who can fight beside you, but you instead put yourself at risk of death because of your own goals." "So your choice is simple, you take one last stand against those 'Shadows', your past sins made real, and in the end, free yourself from your pointless suicidal goals..." That, left me to ask in worry "And if I don't?" But I had a feeling I knew the answer, as Nekros spoke up "Or forever wander as a hollow spirit, cursed to watch time go by, drowning in your own self-loathing." Nekros ended, as I noticed that my body slowly glowed, as pieces of me began to fade, but I still wanted answers, many which Ive wanted to know....but then again, I had bigger things than me to worry about, and they knew it So with one final sigh, I looked to Nekros, as he looked to me. "Nekros?" I asked calmly, as he blinked "Wh-AH son of a whore!" he snapped in actual emotion, as my fist met his nose, to which I smirked at him. "I can understand you're upset, but...tell her to hold onto my scythe for me....but I'm guessing that's not why you hit me?" "It's for knocking my sister up! You ass!" I joked, as he couldn't help but smirk for once in his life at me, to which I looked finally to Prime and Stalker. "Stalker? I hope you can understand why I had to kill you....and i'm sorry for never helping you when I could have." "Yes well....I guess....I made mistakes too, but never regret it, otherwise i'll haunt your ass!" His grunted, before walking away and leaving me to gaze at my brother-figure one last time "I'm glad that I got to see you grow one last time, good luck, Prime." He smiled, as I saw his armour had vanished in the blink of an eye, as I took note of my appearance, to which I mutter one line to myself, as my vision filled with white once more "Ante up." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Back on the streets* As the world around the Tenno fell silent, no one dared to speak, not a single soul could. Prime laid on the floor, blood covering most of his limbs, with his armour as cold as the light that faded from it. None of them could stand to believe that he was gone, after everything he's fought, this was his end. "Well, well, well!" At the snarky tone everyone looked to the injured Shadow Nekros, as he chuckled to himself like a maniac. "The little runt finally met his match!" "He was doomed from the start...." Shadow Limbo stated coldly, as Shadow Valkyr joined them "I guess i'll have some run stripping him of his skin later!" She clapped, but a gun shot to her foot silenced her, as they all looked to Valkyr, holding Excalibur's Lex, as the smoke left the barrel "You want him, get through us." Mesa dared, her two gauntlet magnums pointed at them, then Limbo spoke up "Just give us some ideas." Even that was unusual for his rather normal approach, then they saw the Shadow Frost walk up to the front "And do, prey tell, are you going to do about that?" He inquired, as he pointed to Skyler, who's head still rested on Excalibur's chest. "Your a man short, well...two now." "Never underestimated us!" A new voice chimed in from above the group, as Titania flew in, holding her twin archwing guns high. "And besides, one of us would love to kick your asses!" At that, they watched as something walked from the alleyway, holding a mangled body of Shadow Loki, as he unceremoniously dropped his corpse to the road. To which Shadow Limbo retorted. "Even so, you wi-" *WHOOSH-SHING* What came as a surprised from everyone, was the impact two black and red arrows had with Shadow Limbo's chest and head, as his body shook slightly, before dropping in a heap. All the Tenno and spectator nearly all gasped in utter shock as the a bow filled with dread was lowered. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Play this for a more epic fight!) I sat upright from the stone, Skyler now looking up at my with tears in her eyes, as I dropped my bow to the ground, the remaining Acolytes, all now staring in anger at my sudden rise from the dead, Skyler was the first to actually speak everyone's mind. "Y-You're alive...!" She couldn't help but smile tearfully as I patted her head softly, as I rose to my feet, my armour rekindling the energy I had lost, as my armour surged once more with the void I defied long ago, but now....after everything I've done, the people ive seen and killed, I fully embraced its light. Something I never did before now. I didn't waste time, as I summoned my Exalted blade once more, its embers growing with the crowds cheers of utter joy, as I ran faster than even Loki could muster, as I impaled Shadow Valkyr directly, but she had already activated her claws, as she swung frantically at my face. But I quickly pulled my blade out, kicking her to the tarmac as she spun around. I then ducked from the rapier that swung over my head, as Shadow Frost struck with such accuracy, that even I was on edge. But I spun to the floor, knocking his feet out from under him, as I elbowed him in the jaw, before grabbing his leg, and using him as a bat to swat, Shadow Valkyr away, both flying towards the statue again. I then rolled backwards, as Shadow Nekros swung his scythe in my direction, but all his swoops were slow and desperate, as he let out a battle cry, and lunged at me. That's when I flanked his left, grabbing his bottom jaw with my right hand, before I swiftly smashed his head into the ground, which followed with his entire head igniting into a beam of pure void light, as he was fired through about 6 inches of concrete. I then felt something cut the side of my leg, as I watched Shadow Frost's rapier strike me, then my side, chest and face. I could only stumble back, towards Shadow Valkyr as she waited, but I decided to end this. I've had enough! At my yell, I kicked the rapier from his grasp, before I grasped my exalted blade in two hands, before pulling it into two, separating it's power into two identical blades. And as Shadow Frost tried to recover, I swung both into his body in an motion that I remembered mastering from Prime a long time ago The first hit is was a horizontal swing from left to right with the right sword, I immediately followed by an uppercut with the left sword. I then then jumped up and slashed him with both swords from left to right while spinning, twice. I quickly landed, facing him as I slashed an 'X' from top to bottom, before inversely slashing the X again from bottom to top. I then leapt at the target, making two diagonal slashes from the same starting point, with the left sword heading from top to bottom to the left, while the right sword heads from bottom to top toward the right. In those swift actions, I watched in slow motion, as his body crumbled to the tarmac, his body bleeding profusely, that's when I turned to Shadow Valkyr, now lunging into my torso, but I raised my swords again, holding the same action for what I did two Shadow Frost. I reversed my grip on the two swords, before slashing another X with both swords from top to bottom into her slight-immortal body. I quickly did a barrel-roll like maneuver while slashing at her form, like a corkscrew. Before her claws could hit me, I then slashed another two X's at her chest, first from top to bottom and then bottom to top. I hastily made a diagonal slash with the right sword, top-right to bottom-left, then I spun left and used this momentum to deal a horizontal, right to left slash with the left sword. I then, at a very high speed, made an uppercut with the right sword; then another with the left sword, a downward slash with the right sword, then a downward diagonal slash towards the right with the left sword, I accurately spun and repeated the previous actions, before thrusting the right-handed sword out. And in a final strike, I forcefully struck downwards in a lunge with the left sword. With those movements, her mangled body was sent flying into a nearby building, blood following like trail after her. And as I sighed, I turned back to the road, facing the crawling Shadow Nekros as he laughed, looking right up at me with a twisted form. "W-What kind of Prime....k-kills those wh-who were his allies!?" He gargled, as I finally spoke, my words carrying no core to their meaning for others, only to myself "I'm no prime." And in those few words I forcefully thrusted both my swords into his chest, as I left them fade with this monster's life....and just like that....the world was silent again....and I finally sunk to my knees, which I guess was a bad move, since I was nearly tackled to the ground my Skyler and my sister "Excalibur!" Ow, yes that's my name, I'm pretty sure I got to keep that part of my memory in Limbo "Yes?" I asked casually, as I knew what came next "You idiot! Of all the stupid things you've done, why? Why did you have to....I...." Valkyr tried to mutter to me, but all I did was hug her close, before whispering to her "He told me....if you could look after his scythe for him..." I didn't quite understand why he said that, I doubt I will, but something in her snapped, as she broke down in my lap, as I saw her tears leak from her helmet, but I just looked around my small team, as they all either nodded, or gave me a thumbs up, then my gaze landed on Sky She looked torn between anger and pure happiness, as I continued to stare at her, and I guess, in that one instant, nothing else mattered to me. So I grabbed the sides of my helmet, my black hair glowing with blue embers as I could already hear the crowd gasp, if only they knew. But then my gaze fell back to her cyan eyes again, funny how they used to hate me long ago, but now....I only felt joy when seeing them, and so, before she could get a word out, I rested my head on hers, as I spoke softly to avoid anyone else's ears. "I held onto my promise, just like I said I would...." I spoke, as all I could see was her trembling eyes, as she ensnared me in her arms once again, as I did the same, and for some reason, the world felt a whole lot brighter "I know....and I love you for that...." She spoke through her soft crying, and then, my mind drifted once more Our world, whether fictional or real, can never be explained nor controlled. It will constantly throw you through life, and nothing can prepare you for the things you face, the people you'll encounter along your journey, and the costs you must make, no matter how hard they may be. Your life is something that can, however, be the most amazing thing in the world, and in the end, you always be left with one place that makes you smile, laugh, cry....and in that moment, you look back at all the steps you took. And for me, the last thing I said to her, as we sat in each others embrace, ignoring the world around us. "I'm home again...." The End