//------------------------------// // Finale: In Memoria // Story: To Live Again // by _No_One_Remains_ //------------------------------// From the Eyes of a Princess It all happened so suddenly. I’m not even sure any of it really happened. Neither Twilight nor her friends have any memory of that night… I suppose I could have been imagining everything, but it felt so real. Even their names slip my mind. The statue of Discord—the long-sealed-away Master of Chaos—began to crack and flake as it had so many months back. Only, this time, I had no means of justifying the seal’s breaking. Unlike last time, where the power of the Elements of Harmony had chosen new hosts and the magics used by their previous owners weakened, the Elements that had sealed him away the second time were still at full power. Perhaps it had to do with the two strangers that were standing across the garden from him? There was a moderately tall white-haired one, who looked almost paralyzed with fear. His companion, a short shadowy figure in a blue coat, turned to us with sadness and regret pouring from his golden eyes. I can’t begin to remember why they looked like they did, or why I felt such pity for them. As the monster’s prison slowly fell to pieces, he let out a nauseating screech of pain and anger. I’d never heard Discord in such pain, and I can’t pretend to understand why he would have been so angry. The final pieces of stone burst from his face, and I heard an all-too-familiar laugh ring out in the garden. The laugh wasn’t followed by one of his usually-condescending remarks. Instead, it was cut off by a bright white light that swirled around him and swallowed the entirety of the draconequus. The two bipedal strangers were left in awe, staring at the white doorway that was left in its place. I felt an odd energy circulating to and from the portal; it almost felt peaceful, yet at the same time hostile. The white-haired man kicked the ground. He growled, “We were so damn close! This was the only thing that could’ve gone wrong!” He turned toward the short figure at his side, waiting for a response. The child let out a deep yawn before sighing, “Sorry, I kinda just woke up from a dirt nap… But don’t beat yourself up, . We couldn’t have expected the Mist to resurrect him!” Rather than continue to look sad, the kid faced the portal with a bold stance. I could feel his determination from where I stood. “You’re right. To resurrect a demon not made of Mist was something that couldn’t have been foreseen. That said, we can’t simply sit by and let the bastard run free!” The anger in his expression vanished, suddenly replaced by hopeful ambition. They both turned to us and bowed silently. In that short moment, so many things were said without a single spoken word. ‘Goodbye.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘Sorry.’ Perhaps the deepest meaning behind the bow was something much darker… ‘We may never meet again, and that’s okay.’ All of those thoughts were sent our way without a single word. And then, without a single ounce of hesitation, the two strangers looked each other in the eyes, nodded, and darted into the white portal. Almost as suddenly as it had appeared, the vortex of mysterious energy vanished. It was at that moment I looked around me and wondered why we were all standing in the garden in the middle of the night… I couldn’t even remember the names of the creatures that had led us there. And, even if I’d wanted to, I couldn’t begin to imagine what happened to them on the other side of that door. Nopony will ever know for sure, and I think that’s for the best. From the Sea of Memories The two heroes advanced forward, unwavering in the face of their own mortality. If they were to die, it would be for the sake of the world they were never meant to live in. To end the life of the memory that birthed them would only lead to their removal from the world. It is with this inevitable fate in mind that they charged into a sea of pasts and presents, ready to face whatever obstacles to end the life of a monster that would cause suffering if left to its own devices. As the heroes of the tale raced toward a hopeful final confrontation, the villain was beginning a fight with itself. For the powerful freedom of the Demon of Chaos wasn’t willing to surrender to the selfish ambition of the Memory of Pain. The two minds melded, each vying for control of a body with limitless potential. If the magics of Mist and Chaos joined together, it would create a power simply more overwhelming than any other in existence. The stage was set for the end of the story. All that remained was to see who would come out on top. Chaos vs. Ambition Discord drifted slowly through the endless abyss of Memoria, his consciousness wrapped in an inward battle against an invading force. Two minds, both seeking freedom from some prison, traded blows in the hopes of becoming the master of a limitless body. The demon Discord and the monster Garland fought for their rights to be alive. Yet that’s hard to do when one isn’t meant to be alive at all… “How many times will you make me say it? This is my body! Give up already!” The image of the draconequus Discord thrashed around within the void of his mind, tackling his opponent in anger and annoyance. The image of Garland returned each blow with his own, though his weapons failed to do much damage at all. He growled, “When all is said and done, I shall have limitless power! I will be a god!” At that particular time he sent a wave of magical energy at the owner of the body. Discord scoffed at the energy, swatting it away with a single claw. “Is that the best you can muster, old fool? Even that child could do better!” At the mention of a child, Discord pointed directly behind his opponent to an image in the distance. The image was of a small baby with short blonde hair and blue eyes. A short, fragile tail extended from its waist. Turning to see the image, Garland was filled with a sudden urge to scream. It was a memory from his past, one that he almost regretted. It wasn’t a mournful regret, but one comprised of anger and the scars of failure. He turned back to the beast before him with a newfound rage fueling his attacks. “You dare show me that ungrateful brat?! You act as if you haven’t any ghosts plaguing you!” The old man rushed toward the mismatched demon and tackled him, using a small burst of magical energy to add force to the impact. A faint image appeared above where the pair landed. The demon let out a scoff, “What ghosts could I possibly have? I’m a free spirit, unlike you!” He kicked his opponent off and pointed toward the image in the sky. “You have so many regrets, I don’t even have to dig for them!” he laughed mockingly. As Garland rose to continue the battle, his eyes caught the memory looming over him. A young man in a blue vest with dark golden hair stood with a dagger in hand, a pillar of crimson rising just behind him. Several indistinguishable figures stood behind him, weapons drawn. At the very top of the image could be seen a white-winged figure. “That was…when I…” the old man mused. A large black spear manifested in his hands and he thrust it toward the floating demon beside him. With an angry roar, he cried out, “You have no business meddling in my past! You’ll pay for your insolence!” The spear only barely missed its mark, driven off course by a sudden hesitation from its wielder. Discord teleported a few yards away with a snap of his claws, taking the much-welcomed opportunity. Rather than strike back what could be a finishing blow, he decided to bask in the emotions of his opponent. The draconequus laughed, “You couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with an arm like that!” A small pink cloud popped to life above the old man, and from it poured a thick brown liquid. “Would you care for some chocolate? It always makes me feel better!” he mocked. The chocolate rain continued to fall as Garland lamented the circumstances of his situation. He thought back to all the events that led to that particular moment, ending with the moment he was once again beaten by his own creations. It was at that moment—at the memory of his puppet rebuking his impossible existence—that he decided he would do whatever it took to come out as the victor of the battle he was locked in. So, with spear gripped firmly in his hand, he sliced the pink cloud right in half, sending its remnants flying away. He began to chuckle, “So all it took was the sheer force of will to give a memory true life. It took a desire for meaning to steal my control away from him. So, if I wish to be victorious, will that get me what I want?” The tip of the spear was aimed directly for the monster’s head, and its wielder prepared to make another dash. “This place is quite fascinating, isn’t it? It can show you things you never even knew you remembered! It can even show you things another creature wants you to see!” With a snap of his claws, the whiteness of Discord’s inner mind burst to life with colors that painted a picture from the past. “With our minds so close together, I can see all of your memories. The real question is can you see mine?” The old man scoffed, “More than you care to know, ancient demon! I can see more scars than you care to admit you have!” The scene around them quickly distorted, changing from a bizarre mix of odd objects to a rainbow-smothered castle hall. Of course the draconequus would recognize such a ghastly image. There, wrapped in a vortex of rainbow-colored magic he stood, powerless against the might of the Elements of Harmony. The two wielders of the gems at the time were relentless in their assault, and it had been the beast’s own cockiness that led to his downfall. The memory was like a carving in the back of the monster’s brain, never to be forgotten. But Discord, a being of freedom and disharmony, was not one to let a simple image faze him. He lifted up into the air and began to fly circles around his opponent. All the while he whispered in a sing-song voice, “The ghosts of my past have nothing on yours.” The sheer energy the beast seemed to have—never growing tired and never attempting to end the battle—was more than Garland could comprehend. The old man watched on in awe as his pseudo-enemy flew around carelessly, barely mindful of his situation. As the beast finished another revolution around the ‘room’, the memory struck out. And, for the first time since the battle began, he actually landed a respectable blow! Discord fell to the ground in sudden shock, tiny drips of blood following his path of descent. It was more the disbelief that he’d been hit that sent him down rather than the strike itself. It was shallow, no deeper than an inch, and the wound was healed in a matter of seconds by the beast’s magic. No, it would take more to fell the Master of Chaos. But even the draconequus had to admit, “That was quite impressive, for an old man! I guess you finally got some guts to follow through?” In no time at all, he was back in the air, this time much more cautious where he passed. Garland bellowed cockily, “’A memory can only hurt another memory’, is that right? Then the blood on my spear proves that I am no more a memory than you are!” He waved his weapon through the air and watched the blood stain the floor of the memory they were still entangled in. “You were so certain I couldn’t do you harm. Is it possible that you were listening to us in the garden? Were you conscious all those years of imprisonment?” he finished with a pitying sigh. The feeling of the unbearable cold of the stone and the incessant crawling of his skin made the old man shutter. The few moments he was in that state were enough to make him curse whatever fate had cast him there; he couldn’t begin to imagine what his opponent had felt in all those years. His thoughts were broken by a bright flash of purple light. Once it faded, the two battling minds were left in the view of a memory from the past. A memory neither of them readily recognized. The viewpoint of the memory was from high in the air, just above a red-colored landmark. All around in the distance were tall, flat-headed formations, almost like giant stone mushrooms. Most of them were engulfed in fire, with beams of purple energy wrapping its way toward the ones that were not. Down below stood the blonde-haired man in his blue vest, just as he had before. Again supporting him from behind were a group of diverse creatures, all standing exhausted as if they’d just fought. It clicked in Garland’s head just what he was seeing. He scoffed, “If you’re trying to show me scars of my past, you’re doing a horrible job at it! This isn’t even my memory!” He turned on a dime and launched his spear at the still-watching monster. The image continued to play, showing the entirety of the in-sight world burst into fire and death. The figures below fled hurriedly, seeking refuge from the dying place. The figure who owned the memory vanished from the scene, appearing instead in a world much brighter than the other. At unbelievable speeds, it took off through the air toward a nameless goal. Consumed by the violent memory before him, Discord never saw the spear coming. By the time he did, it was too late to react. The weapon was launched at just the right angle to crash into its mark with the broad side of the blade. Just like that, in an almost-too-unfair way, the Master of Chaos was out like the light of the world he just watched die. With a growing smile of absolute victory, Garland approached the unconscious monster to deliver the truly final blow. “Sorry it had to end this way. You’re ability to have fun doing bad things could have taken us farther than my own greed. But you had to fight me, and now you have to die.” He picked the spear up from the ground where it had landed after bouncing from the beast’s body and aimed its point at his enemy’s head. He chuckled, “But you said yourself that this could only end one way… In these last few moments of life, Memento Mori, demon.” And that was that. The battle ended. With an ear-shredding screech, the physical body of the Master of Chaos fell to the ground and writhed uncontrollably. Part of its mind had just been completely eradicated, and that would be enough to scar any being permanently. In the moments it took for the old man’s consciousness to fully take over, dark memories from Discord’s past flashed to life all around him. The ‘scars’ he claimed he didn’t have filled his final moments with regret and an even greater pain. And finally, after immeasurable time locked within his mind fighting against the rightful owner of the body, Garland gained full power. His skin crawled and his body felt cold for only a moment. Then, with a confidence that gave him the feeling of immortality, he snapped his newfound claws and conjured forth a simple cloud of cotton candy. Smiling deviously at his host’s meaningless concoction, the old man felt a joy he hadn’t felt in all his life. And he called out, “Come and get me, you worthless toys!” And a voice called back, childlike and determined, “Don’t worry Garland, we are!” “…What!?” Memories’ Blessings Slowly, cautiously, the two once-empty vessels explored the vast expanse of white before them. They never strayed far from one another, and they kept their attention ready for any sudden attack. As they advanced ever further, the nothingness seemed to grow, endless and eternal. Step after step, the world around them continued, never changing. With no landmarks to guide their way or a door in the distance to show their progress, all they knew was that they were searching for the Master of Chaos. After an immeasurable period of time walking ever forward, the childlike Black Mage fell to his knees in exhaustion. With deep, strained breaths he sighed, “Was it a mistake to follow him?” He fell flat on the ground, a great weight pouring down on top of him. The brotherly Genome stopped beside his worn-out companion and sat, time not being a factor in their confrontation with their foe. “I don’t know. Maybe,” he groaned, falling back and lying flat against the ground. Fatigue swallowed him as suddenly as it had his friend. Their eyes grew heavy and their focus faded, the lull of sleep taking them from their goal. The emptiness seemed to fade out, becoming naught but a memory. Peace washed over them. “I will be a god!” The deep, ominous voice of Garland called out through the void, tearing the veil of unconsciousness to shreds. Kuja leaped back to his feet, a sudden energy filling his every muscle. Vivi joined him, ashamed of his sudden lack of will and determined to finish what had been started by the monster they sought. The mystic aura of the world they stood in seemed to revitalize them as they remembered their ultimate goal—and their ultimate fate. Far away, maybe yards or maybe miles, a bright blue light penetrated the endless sea of white. Nodding in agreement, the two benevolent forces raced toward it, uncertainty filling their hearts but not their minds. As they continued onward, the emptiness of the void burst to life with colors and sounds. Countless memories played out for them as they rushed ever deeper into the endless world. Not daring to stop in fear of faltering once more, the pair dashed into the blue light, not knowing what awaited them beyond. Again, as if the world were playing tricks on them, it returned to a white void. The sounds and images of the previous gauntlet faded away, the memories becoming almost nothing but whispers. Again drowsiness clouded their minds. Only this time, Kuja struck the first blow! “Vivi, get up!” As he felt the weight of sleep cover his shoulders, he delivered an offensive kick to his companion’s gut. The mage leapt to his feet with fire on his hands, not stopping to process his reaction. The flames shot forth, stinging the Genome back to an alert state of being. Taking only a moment to slap the flames out, he placed a hand atop his brother’s head and smiled. “Swift thinking, Kuja!” Vivi cheered. The realization of what had just happened gave him a hopeful energy, despite whatever fear had filled him moments before. Kuja sighed, “This place is trying to feed on our Mist, Vivi. It’s playing with our heads so we won’t resist. We can’t let that happen if we’re to kill Garland.” He looked all around the area they were in, hoping some other door would appear to guide them. “Do you…know where we are?” “Of course. Are you telling me you don’t?” “Not really…” Kuja let out a light-hearted laugh and waved a hand toward the empty void. An image popped to life of a tall stone tower suspended in an expanse of clouds engulfed in a heavenly light. The image shifted outward, revealing several familiar figures. The blond-haired man in his blue vest was present, as well as a young woman in an orange suit. A heavy suit of metal armor covered what appeared to be an old man. Whoever owned the image was looking up at all the figures. Vivi gasped in understanding, “Memoria! We’re in Memoria!” “That’s right! It’s a lot different than it was back then, though. Before, it was a fortress melded together at my will to keep you and your companions from interfering with me…” The Genome looked down at the ground suddenly as if ashamed to recall the nature of the image. The Black Mage sighed, “But now there’s nothing…because there doesn’t need to be anything…” He fell silent for a moment to consider what he meant. “Garland, or Discord, or whoever, never created anything here because they couldn’t.” “What do you mean?” Kuja’s expression fell blank. “Well, think about it. Garland’s Mist entered the statue of Discord, who was supposed to still be inside the statue. So their minds are probably fighting for control, don’tcha think?” The white-haired brother simply stood in awe, mouth agape, at the logic he’d just had brought to his attention. He considered how possible the idea truly was, and decided that the impossible nature of the world could have been created through the unfocused mindset of the first being to enter. He mulled the thought over for a few moments before a sudden roar of thunder sent his focus crumbling. With a blinding flash of lightning, the entire void ceased to exist. In its place was a large foyer, a branching staircase forming in front of the pair of heroes. Between the two paths of stairs, one turning left and the other right, a large portrait of a fat member of royalty rested just above a more obscure painting. A light melody filled the air from nowhere in particular. Our heroes found themselves wrapped in a bizarre blanket of comfort, more peaceful than the fatigue they encountered previously. That peaceful comfort was spoiled when a loud shriek of fear cried out. With a sudden murky distortion, the figure of a young woman exploded to life at the top of the eastern staircase. She stared down at our heroes with a balance of confusion, fear, and excitement. She was covered with a beautiful white dress and veil. She gasped, “Vivi?! Is that you…again?” The voice was gentle despite the fear in her face, and the little mage more than welcomed its familiarity. “Qu-Queen Garnet? But…” With confusion flooding his thoughts, the child approached his old friend, taking each step with caution. The clattering of metal filled the air. A gruff voice cried out, “Your Highness, is something the matter?! What was that scream for?!” With the same distortion as before, the figure of an old knight in somewhat-rusted armor darted into the scene from the western staircase. In his haste, he crashed headfirst into the approaching mage. Kuja took several steps back, not certain what to make of the events unfolding in front of him. The soldier jumped to his feet and gripped the hilt of his broadsword firmly. He bellowed, “You ne’er-do-wells have tested the wrong royal knight! Meet thy maker you uncouth--!” As quickly as he’d drawn the blade, he let it fall to the ground with a loud metallic thud. His jaw fell open in utter disbelief as he stammered, “M-M-Master Vivi, could that really be you again?” There was that word: ‘Again’. The present Genome continued to slowly inch away, certain that it was nothing but a trick set up by the world around them. He would have no part in its emotional distractions. “Where do you think you’re going, bro?” All four of the present beings turned their attention to the ground floor; the path that would normally lead to the castle gate was instead cut off by the strange aura of energy. Right on the edge of the energy field, following another murky cloud of energy, appeared the same tall blond figure from before, wearing the same blue vest. With a wide grin on his face, he approached the hesitant white-haired man. “We gotta stop meeting like this, you guys. It’s getting old walking into another world just to talk for a few minutes.” He placed a hand on Kuja’s shoulder as a sign of acceptance, all the while shoving the fleeing figure back toward the slowly growing group of people. Vivi finally picked himself up from the ground and laughed, “It’s been what, a week? It’s nice to see you guys so soon!” He adjusted his hat in his usual fashion and looked around the magical area. It had taken the shape of Alexandria Castle’s entrance hall, a place that held many memories for just about everyone in their old entourage. Another figure burst to life within the area, this time leaping from the upper floor directly to Kuja’s side. The familiar red cloak and pointed ears only added to the excitement of the growing situation. A dark, feminine voice tittered, “It’s hardly been a day, let alone a week, Vivi.” “Freya?” the little mage responded, confused by both her sudden appearance and her meaning. Garnet giggled, “We saw you last night, remember? It was right here in the entrance hall, and Eiko tackled you.” She continued down the steps until she was able to give the child a comforting hug, welcoming him back to them. Kuja groaned, “So it’s only been a day for you? It has, in fact, been a week in our case…” He gently shoved his brother away from him and began ascending the stairs. “Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? We’re together again, anyway!” Zidane cheered, dashing up the stairs to embrace the Black Mage. “I gotta admit Quina was a little sad when we said we’d seen you two! You should’ve stuck around a little longer last time!” Vivi returned his friend’s hug, thinking back to the last time they met. He gasped, “Quina wasn’t there, was s/he?! Why not?” “S/he was too busy cooking up a storm for the Queen,” Freya chuckled. Kuja turned suddenly, staring at the place where the door to the castle kitchens would have been. Focusing for a few long seconds, he laughed, “Speak of the devil and he shall come.” A deep, gluttonous voice called out into the entrance hall, “I smell…Mist! I smell Black Mage!” As if summoned by his name, the large figure dressed in a red coat and white apron, with a long hanging tongue, burst to life within the magical aura. Almost immediately, s/he turned to face the group of companions, his eyes focused on the child in their midst. “Quina can smell Mist?” Vivi mumbled under his breath, fairly surprised that Mist even had a distinct smell. The Qu approached the source of the scent, not even taking time to notice the rest of his friends. His lips turned up in joy and s/he cheered, “Vivi, that you?! I no see you in long time!” Seeing a glint in the gourmet’s eyes, Zidane quickly released his friend and leapt back. Just in time, he landed outside of the large Qu’s range as s/he tackled Vivi to the ground in a happy embrace. For the second time in a handful of minutes, the Black Mage was on the ground surrounded by friends. “Okay Quina, don’t smother the poor kid.” Freya gently tugged their large friend’s apron, attempting to pull him from such a happy reunion. The Qu bounced back to his feet with a loud thud, a happy grin on his face. Vivi, a little shaken by the sudden tackle, took his time crawling back to his feet. Just as he recovered, an ear-wrenching screech rang out through the void of Memoria, distorting the image of the castle around them. Even the figures residing within the castle had to shield their ears in pain. The screech passed and the area within the magical aura returned to normal. Kuja was the first to recover, taking a defensive stance. The sudden sound was full of pain, and could only have meant bad things were on their way. The entire void began to rumble and rock as the others recovered their senses. With a loud cracking sound, a bright red door swallowed the wall where the former queen of Alexandria’s portrait had hung. As he snatched his weapon from the ground where it fell, Steiner roared, “What sorcery it this?!” “Get back, Your Highness!” Freya, as swift as ever, leaped through the air and landed just in front of Garnet, who simply stood in shock at the sudden commotion. Kuja ascended the steps toward the door, stopping to place a hand on his companion’s head. He chuckled, “I believe that’s our cue, Vivi.” Taking a second to look at all of his still-present friends, Vivi sighed, “You’re right. We have to go now.” “Go?” Zidane gasped. “Where are you going? What’s going on where you are?” Before either hero could explain, a loud roar called out into the void. The familiar, ominous voice was flooded with confidence, “Come and get me, you worthless toys!” Garland’s voice, more antagonistic than ever before, rattled the ‘toys’ to their cores, and those that weren’t part of the battle looked around in frightful confusion. Vivi stepped forward, reaching the top of the steps and staring directly into the red glow of the door. He clenched his fists, looked back at Kuja, and called out into the nothingness of Memoria, “Don’t worry Garland, we are!” His friends shared surprised looks as they watched their once-childlike companion suddenly become determined and proud. “G-Garland? Wasn’t that…?” Zidane placed a hand to his chin and considered the name, thinking back to all the battles they’d fought in their travels. Kuja, as suddenly as anything else had transpired in those last few moments, embraced his brother. The hug lasted only long enough for a simple message to be conveyed, “Remember us, and we’ll never die. Can you do that for me?” And then, before any of the beings present could respond, the two heroes rushed into the bright light of the ominous door. As their images faded, the magical aura shattered to pieces, and Memoria was once again blank. Whatever had just existed, be it a reality or a dream, was no more. The heroes of our tale never looked back as they advanced. Finally, after an immeasurable time fighting against the emptiness of the sea of memories, the two mages reached their goal. As they passed into the red wall of light, they were met by a colorful field of senseless images. At the center of the field, basking in the light of his own magical energy, sat the body of the demon Discord. From his eyes radiated an evil that could only have belonged to a monster of Mist. There they stood opposites within a void of pasts and presents. Two creatures fighting for the sake of a world they were never meant to know stood tall against the evil emanating from a monster born from the plagued memories of some other being. The atmosphere was tense, the air reeking of death and pain. The battle was about to begin. “Our memories will be part of the sky…” Garland wasted no time in striking, lashing out with his newly obtained body as if it were a weapon all its own. His tail swatted the two opponents away with barely any resistance, bringing to life an image of a battle from the Black Mage’s past. Flaming barrels and lifeless corpses fell through a cloudy sky, plummeting into a sea below: the first scar of an adventure that would carry many more. Kuja recovered quickly, casting a spell of his own against the swift monster before him. Several large bolts of lightning crashed down upon the serpentine figure, temporarily stopping his movement and leaving scorch marks on his hide. Tiny sparks of blue light danced around his body and restored the scorched areas back to health. “You…cannot best me, insects!” The paralysis wore off as Garland roared, and a large pit of bloodied blades materialized beneath his enemies. With barely a second to react before gravity took hold of him, Kuja summoned forth a burst of wind to carry Vivi from the danger zone, leaving himself defenseless in the process. Just as the element placed his still-distracted ally safely away from the trap, the grips of reality pulled him down toward what could have been his demise. The little mage burst to life, breaking free from the memory of his encounter with the third Black Waltz brother. In a matter of a second, he summoned a field of Stop magic to keep his companion alive. Turning toward his enemy he cried out, “You won’t win with cheap tricks, Garland!” Mustering all the energy he could, an explosion of rock and stone burst from the depths of the trap, carrying Kuja with it. Thrown from the Stopped field, the Genome regained control of his body, leaping from the platform of rock and manifesting a spear in his hands. Down he fell, prepared to put all the force he could into piercing the monster’s hide and dealing as much internal damage as he could. Distracted by the sudden manipulation of elements, the draconequus had little time to react to the sudden paradigm shift. In a matter of moments, he was forced to go from the offensive to the defensive. With a snap of claws, a thick barrier of pink clouds engulfed the monster. To his astonishment, the seemingly useless magical ability found a means of being more than show. The cotton-candy coating caught Kuja’s spear and locked on to it, returning the momentum back to him and sending him flying. The contradictory demon let out a loud roar of victory, silently thanking the being he’d stolen the body from. Kuja growled, “Your games have no place in a real battle, Garland! Cheap tricks will only get you so far!” Kuja waved his hand in a wide circle, stirring magical energy into it as he did so. The Mist began to manifest into a large red ball of light, which its creator sent flying at the enemy. The ball of Mist grew exponentially in size, swallowing the demon whole. As it continued to grow, smaller balls of energy split from it, circling around in a generator-type motion. The intense heat of the spell obliterated the demon’s barrier as if it were not even there. Finally, the ball imploded on itself, a deafening explosion filling the immediate area with sound. A shockwave of air sent the heroes flying as the Mist continued to bombard its target. Vivi recovered quickly, not willing to give his enemy time to recover. Without hesitation, he conjured his own ball of energy and sent it flying toward the staggered demon. The ball exploded on contact, blanketing its mark with fire and smoke. A vortex of wind followed it, clearing the field and buffeting everyone present. With that, the Black Mage was spent, his Mist drained. He fell back in exhaustion, unable to move. Garland let out a guttural roar, “I shall not be beaten!” All of the memories and images that decorated the void blinked out like stars. The empty whiteness dimmed as thick black clouds filled the space overhead. The damaged and bloodied draconequus launched upward through the gathering of clouds, a bolt of red lightning tracing his path back to the ground. The ground began to rumble and the air began to grow stale. With a demonic and grotesque growl, the clouds above split apart, a red light beaming down to the area below. The clouds appeared as a god would, the light emanating from a monstrous eye in the sky. Its energy almost felt calming while still evoking a sense of fear and pain. Kuja ran to the worn out hero’s side, trying to get some response from him. As he stood in anticipation of what the red light could bode, his body began to grow heavy. He was suddenly conscious of the fatigue that had consumed him while he cast his magics. And, just as it had earlier, the world seemed to be draining him of the will to fight on. Streams of energy began to flee from his body, drawn toward the red eye above. The more that left him, the less will he had to fight. It didn’t take much for him to collapse in a heap on top of his brother, who was losing what little energy he had left. Garland’s voice bellowed in victory, “You are but insects against my might! When you are out of my way, I shall consume everything you’ve fought for! Worlds will die at my hands! I shall take revenge on the fates that led me where I am!” A large figure burst through the cloud cover and plummeted to the ground, leaving a crater in the center of the beam of red energy. The beast was serpentine, except it was thicker and more menacing than the previous enemy. While maintaining the basic shape of a draconequus, it was coated in thick black armor with silver blades jutting out in every direction. In a voice that sounded almost like a ghost, it sighed, “A pity this is how you meet your end. It seems that a memory holds more power in this place than even a god…” The voice was without a doubt Garland’s, though it was corrupted by an odd aura. Kuja’s breath was heavy, almost pained. With the little energy that the red aura hadn’t yet stolen, he chuckled, “The Invincible…wasn’t always evil…you know.” Struggling against his own weariness, he placed a hand flat on Vivi’s chest, channeling any energy he could into his friend’s body. The mage’s eyes opened, and he stared up at the monster that seemed to be killing them. He mumbled, barely audible, with wonderment and fear, “Invincible…” The eye in the sky suddenly flashed a bright crimson before the light it produced simply faded. The cloud covering evaporated back into the sea of memories, and the ship itself began to crack and flake. The red of the eye swirled and faded out, popping back to life as a blue crystal. The rumbling on the ground and the staleness of the air seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by a sudden excitement. The streams of Mist fleeing the heroes’ bodies stopped in their tracks. The pull of the Invincible’s magic reversed in an explosion of Mist that rained down on the victims of its attack. The streams expanded into full-fledged rivers of energy and Mist, bringing sudden life back to the exhausted duo. Springing back to life, the two faced the black-clad serpent before them. Garland roared, “No! This is all wrong! The Invincible is my memory! Why does it betray me?” The Mist continued to flood his enemies’ bodies, filling them with an unimaginable power. Vivi, whose body began to glow a deep pink color, simply stared into the demon’s eyes. As the Mist continued to pour and build up, the Black Mage cheered, “It may be a memory, but it’s my memory now! We used it to stop Kuja, so it’s just as much mine as yours!” The pink light began to swirl around his body, filling every muscle with a familiar and dangerous power. Kuja burst into laughter, “A warship designed to kill and enslave has just been used to heal and free! The Terrans knew the importance of balance between violence and kindness, but you only filled your creations with pain and anger! Now, I hope you can see the error of your ways, Garland!” Pink light swallowed him, empowering him just as it had his friend. The rivers of energy ceased to flow, and the Trances of both heroes took full effect. A pink aura of Mist and magic swallowed them, pooling together as a limitless source of power. Fear filled the eyes of the demon who opposed them as he fled into the distance of the void. Together, in perfect harmony, the two mages raised their arms up high. The pool of energy gathered above them, and with a common thought binding their magic, a ball of intense Mist took shape, growing ever larger. As the image of the Invincible faded away, the Mist grew to occupy its place in the void. They looked into one another’s eyes and saw the fiery hope they held in common. Turning toward the fleeing monster, they released all of the energy they had gathered, letting it do what it needed to end the life of a selfish and cruel beast. In an explosion of light and sound and Mist, the void itself heaved in pain. The light of the blankness faded into pink energy, the Trances of the heroes fading just as surely as the energy had. All around them stretched darkness. Even Memoria was unprepared for the sheer energy it had contained. There in the distance, in steep contrast to the pure shadow, laid the original form of the demon Discord. The two victorious mages approached it cautiously, not certain the battle was truly over. As they grew closer, a dark aura seemed to emanate from the fell beast. Light slowly returned to the void, an image of a wide open field taking the place of the arena they had fought in. A black smoke poured from the limp vessel, slowly drifting into the air. The beast’s eyes opened and it launched into the air. The two mages took offensive stances, ready to strike at a second’s notice. Instead of hostile magic, they were greeted by an unfamiliar laugh. The voice coming from the demon was not that of Garland, but of a much happier spirit. The Master of Chaos chuckled, “That was quite a show, I must say! Very well played, using your memories to overshadow his.” He added venom to the pronoun, waving a claw at the black cloud dispersing in the air. Vivi dropped his guard, glad to hear that their enemy had actually been beaten. “So that’s it then? We won? He can’t hurt Equestria anymore?” the child sighed. “It just feels…too easy,” Kuja groaned, not certain whether he was relieved or confused. Discord tittered as he glided around the duo, “Well I can’t say he’s not a threat, but he certainly isn’t inside me! But now riddle me this: how do we get out of here?” He stopped in place and looked around the open field. With a small grin, Kuja waved a hand off to the side. Just behind them, a large white door ripped through the peaceful image. He sighed, “All you have to do is remember your home. Memoria will do the rest.” A sharp pain caught his head, and he fell to his knees in sudden weariness. “Kuja?!” Vivi knelt beside his companion as a sudden dread filled his heart. The draconequus drifted slowly past them toward the door. With a cocky tone he groaned, “But my home is so dull. I’d rather see yours! If you and that old man are examples of what to expect, I believe I could have some fun!” A wide grin stretched across his face, as if he were plotting something devious. The white-haired mage chuckled, “Don’t be stupid. Memoria won’t allow you to go someplace you aren’t meant to be.” The pain in his head developed into a throbbing pressure, and he hunched over closer to the ground. The Black Mage moaned through clenched teeth, “C’mon Kuja, we can go tell Princess Celestia we won! Get up…” Without warning, his body began to ache. With a pained scream, he fell flat on his stomach, his entire being beginning to writhe and wrench. “We knew this would happen…” Kuja grumbled. “We were his memories, so now we go away with him.” Discord stopped his advancing and stomped a paw on the ground. In an almost outraged fashion he growled, “What?! You spent all that time fighting for survival, and now you’re going to die? That hardly seems fair!” Standing tall on his paws, the monster crossed his arms in contemplation. Vivi’s breath was already shallow, and his body quivered in pain at each one. He managed to choke out, “That’s our fate. We…have to die…” The tip of his hat began to melt away, evaporating into a cloud of red smoke. Slowly, the two mages were vanishing. The throbbing in Kuja’s head developed into absolute pounding, and he fell to his stomach in agony. He cried out, holding back his anger, “The sea of memories won’t let us where he don’t belong, so it’s getting rid of us for good!” Starting from his feet, he began to melt away, just like his companion. “But you had a life before you came to Equestria, didn’t you? What about all of your friends waiting to see you again?” The monster snapped his claws, and the peaceful field gave way to two images of their earlier meeting. The same scene portrayed from the heroes’ different viewpoints showed the beast how cared for his ‘saviors’ were. The child croaked in pain, “We died…so we don’t belong there anymore…” Kuja slowly added, “And we never belonged…in your world…” “Your friends didn’t seem to agree with you, did they?” Discord flew around the image, stopping to examine the figures of their friends. He chuckled, “So you are the one whose memories plagued the old man? I’d say you deserve a medal, Kuja.” He received no response, the Mist pouring from their bodies leaving them lifeless. With a snap of his claws, the clouds of red smoke stopped their ascent, instead coming back together to form thicker clouds. The demon sighed, “Celestia says I have no compassion for others. She may be right, but I owe you both for saving me from that disgusting creature’s control! I can’t change what you are, but I can at least get you out of here…” He snapped his claws one final time. A large red portal burst to life underneath the dying mages. Suspended in air by chaotic magic, they stared blankly into it, seeing shapes and colors slowly come to focus. The red smoke Discord had stopped from fleeing poured back into their bodies, returning their consciousness to them. They glanced back at the strange creature that seemed to be helping them before they were suddenly released by his grip. In an instant, they fell through the bright door and into a world they were more than familiar with. Discord watched them fall into the world that they truly belonged in. In a matter of moments, they would be found by creatures that truly cared for them, more than any pony in Equestria could. He thought for a moment how bizarre the whole scenario seemed, but he kept his confusion silent. Turning back toward the blue portal, he considered the fact that he would probably return to his stone prison once he crossed through. He grinned deviously at the red door as it began to shrink in size. Just as it became a tiny speck of light, the draconequus burst into laughter. “Arrivederci!”