Getting away from the intense action of flying bullets, laser fire, explosions and severed arms or whatnot; a Kurumi flew towards the DEM building. 'Hmmm… Macho Michael's certainly taking his sweet time,' the Nightmare thought, debating whether or not to maybe check in on him. Deciding to take a quick peek, she tried flying into through the very top…
Only for the surface to reject her, forcing her backward as if she hit something. She moaned cutely at this while rubbing her own head when she landed on the floor. Narrowing her eyes, she tried again, a little faster this time; but something was still preventing her from phasing through and lead to the exact same result. "Ara, ara. Guess I'll have to take the long route." She said out loud, then ran towards the edge of the roof with her arms out and giggling her unique laugh before jumping off it.
XXX
Once Miku held up the keycard, the door before them began to open in a highly advanced way with some hissing and gear sounds. The room before them was quite large, and had barely any light in it. All it had was a single technologically-advanced chair at the back, which had none other than…
"Tohka!" Michael shouted out, relief and worry washing over him the moment he recognized that costume and insanely long hair. Relief to see her, but worry for her safety. At the sound of her name, Tohka began to stir, her eyes fluttering before opening slowly.
"… Mmmm… Mi… Michael?" She said, sounding very tired and very weak as if she was drugged. The mere thought of that added a different emotion in Michael… rage. Michael's blood couldn't stop itself from slowly boiling… all those wires on Tohka… What the fuck was this place, a quarantine room or some kind of torture chamber?
Without even thinking or wasting another second, he immediately ran into the room, wanting to get to Tohka as soon as possible.
"So… your finally here…" said a voice… a disturbingly calm voice, that seemed to come from everywhere. This made Michael stop in his tracks, looking around the room for the owner of the voice, but no one except him or Miku was in the room with Tohka.
"Who are you?!… Where are you?!" He demanded the voice, still looking around the room with Sandalphon held up. His tone gave Miku a bit of pause. He didn't sound this angry when he and her were bickering while climbing up the stairs. Annoyed yes, but not this level of anger. "SHOW YOURSELF!" He ordered this time, his patience wearing thin.
As if granting his wish, the wall just a few feet from Tohka's left opened up also in a sci-fi like way. All that was behind that door was darkness… until a single black dress shoe slowly walked out. This was followed by another shoe of the same type, and its owner finally walked out of its lair to reveal itself.
It was a man with dark ash colored hair, with a similar style to Michael's raven hair except this man's was longer whereas the Spirit Sealer kept his rather shorter. Not only that, the man's skin was pale white in comparison to Michael's somewhat tanned. This could be either age or the man never went outside in the sun, in fact one could mistake the man for a vampire. Finally his eyes, while Michael's were a soft hazel color (at least when he's not using Spirit Energy), the man had dark eyes.
It was honestly a little creepy. Even by Kurumi standards.
"How ironic… so your the one whose been running amok in my business… must say, even with all my precautions, I didn't expect anyone to make it this far." The man spoke to Miku and Michael, his voice somehow matching his appearance. In response to him revealing himself Miku summoned a pipe from her Gabriel.
Though for some reason, Michael lowered Sandalphon, which both the Princess and the Diva noticed out of the corner of her eye. Was he finally giving up? Miku couldn't help but think it was about time he dropped the act… something about that thought made her feel funny, more specifically in her chest area… nerves from this older humans appearance maybe?
"Since your a friend of the Princess, would it be appropriate to call you Prince then?" Continued the older man, making a joke but continued on. "You know, I've actually been waiting to met you. See the face of the one who could apparently control the power of Spirits…" The man then grinned. "But… I think we know each other pretty well already; don't you think Michael?"
Michael lowered the mighty Angel blade even more, which again both girls noticed. Not only that, but this person knew who Michael was? "… … No… it can't be…" Michael said. His voice, which was full of energy before, had almost sounded defeated now. Even from the little time Miku knew him, that seemed very unlike him. For all that talk about going out of his way to help Tohka, NOW he was taking a step back? She looked back and forth between both humans, trying to figure out why Michael hesitated.
"If I may introduce myself, my name is Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott; the director of DEM Industries… rather long, I know, so Isaac Westcott will suffice." The man said, also telling all of them his name in the same creepy calm tone of voice. Seriously, Miku hated men, but this guy was something else! His voice sounded slimy like…
Wait… Pelham… Michael Pelham… Isaac Ray Pelham… why did he share a name with Michael?… That had to be a coincidence, right? it actually was not uncommon for two people to have the same last name and not be related in any way. But even if it was, why did Michael look so… conflicted? The boys hands and body were shaking a little, but it didn't appear to be only out of exhaustion of overusing Reiryoku.
"Good job making it all the way up here alive. I'm impressed…" said Westcott, but then he began to smirk. "I would expect nothing less… from my son."
If you were in the same room as everyone, you could swear on your life you heard a giant mirror shatter at a very loud volume. Miku's eyes widened, not having expected such a plot twist. "S… Son…?" She repeated.
"Father?" Tohka asked herself out loud. What was going on here?! What was Westcott talking about?! That's saying nothingof Michael's reaction! He looked as if his whole world had crumbled before his very eyes! Usually this is where Michael would say something… but he was now uncharacteristically silent. The overwhelming shock rendering him speechless.
Here's where Westcott began to snicker to himself, though rather loudly. "Amazing… even after almost succeeding, she had this in her back pocket the whole time!" He said, his snickering increasing. "And here I thought all I had to do was get him out of way! But as it turns out, I was wrong again!" He added, laughing to himself some more. "This is hilarious! To think my own son never had the spark of a Wizard, but could handle the power of the Spirits the ENTIRE time!" Westcott finally finished, now laughing out loud.
"… it was you…" Michael finally spoke up, but at a soft volume; but it was also one that forced any listener to stop what they are doing and listen. This included Westcott, who stopped laughing, and Miku and Tohka, who looked right in Michael's direction. "You tried to kill Tohka and Yoshino, you almost got your hands on Kaguya and Yuzuru…" Michael began to say, then his grip on Sandalphon tightened and his volume got a little louder, and growled a bit in it. "You got Mana involved to chase Kurumi endlessly… making them both kill over and over again…" his voice only got further agitated the more he spoke about the subject, to the point he was squeezing Tohka's Angel so hard it was shaking along with his hands from the strain.
He tried keeping a lid on his rising temper… but it was about burst off the jar.
"It was all YOU!" He almost roared at Westcott, his own father. "You've been behind all this from the very beginning! Leaving me to rot in that GODDAMN orphanage; just to play musical chairs with Magical Girls?!" Michael accused his father, having figured it all out… and to say he was pissed was an understatement. Ever since coming here, it's been one life-or-death situation after another… and his dad was the puppet master pulling the strings all along! It made sense why he so angry to Miku and Tohka (to an extent); according to himself, he originally came to Japan for the sole purpose of learning the truth of why he was abandoned. Working his ass off for several years just to make it possible.
Now he knew. Only to find the one who raised him, was the cause of the girls' suffering… And his dad on the other side of the room did not show any remorse for ANY of it. He merely laughed upon seeing his son again.
"You know what? Don't answer that! I don't even careanymore!" He yelled at Westcott again before (or even if) he could reply. "What I want, is Peach out of this castle, NOW!" Michael ordered the head of DEM. Part of him wanted to continue tongue-lashing Westcott, but he also wanted to get the hell away from him and get the older man out of his sight for everything he's done. The fact he was blood-related to the perpetrator made him sick to his stomach.
"And if I refuse, what then?" Westcott asked, chuckling a little as he responded. "I should be afraid, shouldn't I?" He added, though in a condescending way. He then continued to mock his son. "Would you freeze me to death? Maybe blow my body against the walls? Perhaps even-"
FLOOSH! BLAM!
Westcott didn't get a chance to even move as a small bolt of fire grazed past him, impacting the wall behind him and exploding behind him. As the fireball wasn't large, neither was the explosion, but that wasn't the point… it was a warning shot. Despite this, Westcott's expression did not change.
The camera cuts back to Michael, showing him with one arm outstretched, the other holding Sandalphon, and a few embers of the tips of his fingers of the free hand. His eyes were full of rage, but he was breathing heavily to control himself with what little control he must've had remaining. "Or this Plumber… is roasting a Koopa… on an open fire!" Michael did his best to try to control himself, and he did for a bit while speaking through his teeth; but he could not stop himself from yelling and threatening his own father's life at the end.
Tohka was shocked at Michael, and so was Miku. Both had seen Michael mad before. Miku herself had especially seen Michael, and his alter-ego Michelle, pretty angry. Quite a few number of times in fact… but neither teen had ever seen that emotion like this. The intensity in his eyes, his gritting teeth, his shaking body, him trying to control his breathing… and to top it all off, Miku saw the veins in his neck popping as Tohka was not close enough to see this.
If this WAS still an act… why was his body reacting so violently?
It was still a bit of time before Westcott responded, probably weighing his options. "… alright. You win." He said. "You've become quite the negotiator, haven't you son?" He added before snapping his fingers.
This caused the room to light up, and the cuffs holding Tohka in place to recede. She still had wires on her, but she tore those off and quickly got out of the chair, heading for the other side of the room where Miku and Michael were waiting. Once she got close, she held her arms out to hug him, but a wall of Territory spawned from both sides of the room like moving 2 blocks close together, cutting half the room off. It also spread all over the walls of Westcotts side. Regardless, Tohka still looked happily at Michael with her hands on the barrier. Michael copied her with one of his own hands.
Again. Miku felt that same feeling from before… Tohka looked genuinely happy to see him, and Mike liked relieved to see her okay; but that was probably just his expert mental and emotional manipulation of more innocent girls, right?
"Open the door, Westcott." Mike said in a calm tone while slowly turning his head to see the CEO, though you can still tell he was still mad, but held it in as Tohka was free from bondage. All Westcott did was smirk at him, no words being spoken.
Miku glanced at Michael and then back to Westcott, then made a decision. Whether this was still an act or not to win a prize (that prize being a pretty girl), Michael did in fact make it all the way up here, only to learn one of his parents was responsible for everything that had happened to him. The shock on his face could not be faked… he clearly had no idea, only further evidenced by his angry outburst.
A second pipe arose from the floor next to Michael, with of course the boy saw it, and its top curved to the barrier. Miku then took in a breath… "Laaaaaaaaaaaa!" She aimed sound right at the Territory, but unlike with the soldiers in the stairwell, this one didn't even bulge.
"How's the rescue mission going?" Asked a new voice that giggled before responding, though its owner didn't take long to reveal herself. Kurumi (either the real one or a clone) had appeared from a wall on Mike's side of the room. "Oh, my. So a Territory was blocking me?" She added, dropping down to the floor. Already working out what must be done, also due to seeing Mike and Tohka separated by said Territory, Kurumi got out both her guns and fired multiple shots akin to when she and her clones attacked the Yamai Twins back in the studio.
But even her power didn't affect the Territory either, surprising her. Ya know how water ripples when you stick a finger in it? That's basically what it looked like, only multiple times due to multiple bullets. A Spirit that controlled wind was one thing, one that healed itself with fire was another, but this?
Westcott chuckled at their attempts. "I'm afraid not one singleSpirit can break this Territory," he explained. "After analyzing all existing Spirits in Japan, combined with every branch of DEMs' across the globe along with their data, as well as every AST and their sighting around the world; not even an Atomic Bomb could bust it open."
The kids' at this point got concerned… around the world? So it wasn't just Japan that needed Spirits Sealed… but the entire planet?! Just how much data on how many Spirits did Westcott have? How many Spirits were still out there waiting to either be Sealed or destroyed if Michael didn't get to them first?
"But you, son…" Westcott then continued, now getting Michael's sole attention. "One who has already Sealed 5 Spirits, and even taming Nightmare… why don't you cut it?
Surely after getting past all my traps and beating my best Wizards, this simple little Territory should be no problem for you. A knife through butter honestly." He said, which was also a taunt.
As you can imagine, our hero was in no mood for this or Westcott's games. He held Sandalphon up again threateningly. "How about YOU take it down, or I'll carve you like a Thanksgiving turkey!" Michael warned. While none of the 3 Spirits knew what 'Thanksgiving' meant, it sounded pretty serious.
"Hmhmhmhm, I'm sure you can…" Westcott chuckled again. "But you can't do you much carving with the kitchen door still locked now, can you?"
Michael gritted his teeth and mentally cursed. Westcott wasn't lying. Miku, and even Kurumi couldn't break down the barrier; and he doubted Tohka could since he was currently utilizing her power. But even if he wasn't, she could only take so much of it back herself. And he couldn't exactly kiss her to give it all back right now. At this moment in time, Issac Westcott was holding all the cards, having the best possible hand in this poker game.
Still… if it'll get Tohka outta there…
"… Tohka. Stand back." Michael told the Princess.
"Michael…" She was an airhead at times, but Tohka wasn't stupid. She could see how exhausted he was.
"STAND!" Michael cut her off. "… Back!" He added a little more calmly. Knowing she wasn't gonna win an argument with him, she obeyed and got her hands off the Territory, and also took a step or two away from the shield. With her away from possible damage, Michael began to raise Sandalphon higher…
*SPURT!*
"URK!" Michael almost went down on his knees from blood coming out of his body and dropping to the floor, but used Sandalphon to hold himself up.
"Michael!" Said a worried Tohka (who ran back up to the barrier again), and even Kurumi and Miku looked concerned. Kotori's flames didn't kick in until AFTER he slowly rose back up, but even then they didn't completely heal him… this was it. He had pretty much reached his absolute limit. Michael's body was on the verge of breaking from the overuse of supernatural power his mortal body was not qualified to handle. He has never used this much power before, at least not without Tohka helping him like during the tornado incident.
He was not gonna last much longer.
He stood up tall, which took some effort, but he managed. He then slowly looked back at the other 2 Spirits. "Kurumi… if that's the real you, Zayin that asshole when I chop this thing in half…" he said to Kurumi, then slowly looked towards Miku. "And I hate to ask, but…"
"The only reason reason I'll allow it is cause I really want to get out of here." Miku said in her usual tone towards him while trying to hide the concern she had for a moment, already predicting what Michael was going to ask.
"Oh… well I looks like I've been beat!" Westcott said, though he didn't sound worried at all. "One weak, feeble old man; staring into the face of certain doom by 3 Spirits and the one who controls them!" He continued, putting a hand on his head like an overdramatic performance in a play. "Though before I'm turned against my own will, can I have a few final words?" He then looked directly at Michael. "Tell me, son… did you feel backstabbed when I left you at the orphanage?"
Rage began boiling in Michael again as his father only continued to mock him, as if his own flesh and blood, the very existence of his son, meant absolutely nothing to him. "Did I feel backstabbed?! I felt…!"
STAB!
Michael: GAA-URK!
Westcott smirked again. "I think you do now…"
Before any of the Spirits or Michael could react, the Spirit Sealer was literally backstabbed by a large blade from behind. The force of the stabbing sent blood on the Territory then onto the floor. Miku and Kurumi were shocked at what just happened, Tohka more-so as it happened directly in front of her, and she couldn't call out to him in time to warn him.
Michael fell to the floor once the blade was forcefully yanked out, though he did keep himself propped up by his hands for he had dropped Sandalphon and it disappeared. He slowly looked behind him, his vision blurring, but he managed to see…
Michael: E… Ellen…
The self-proclaimed Strongest Wizard had appeared out of nowhere, fully loaded in her CR-Uint… his own blood covering her blade. Michael dropped to the floor, no longer having the strength to hold himself up.
"Michael! Michael!" Tohka cried, banging her fists against the barrier while calling Mike's name over and over again, but it did little good. Her 'Prince' passed out at that point, though Spiritual flames did burst from the wound… but if he was attacked again…
"Shall I finish him off now, Ike?" Ellen asked her boss.
"Not just yet," Westcott said, then looked at the worried Spirit on his side and back to his half-dead son. "… In fact… this should prove to be much more effective!" He added. "Hey, Princess… that is Tohka, was it?" He asked Tohka, getting her attention and stopping her from calling out to Michael. "Your about to watch Ellen chop my sons pretty little head off." He continued in a calm voice that honestly sent shivers down each Spirits spine. This man clearly had no care of any of the lives he takes… including his own son.
"Although; according to our research, Sandalphon can cut through virtually anything. Glass… missiles… concrete… even the fabric of reality itself." Westcott went on, which judging by Tohka's expression, she obviously did not know that last bit of information about her Angel. "If you manage to cut through that Territory and stop Ellens blade with everything you have; then I'll let all of you go free." He promised. "Other than that, well… I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
"Are you sure of this, Ike?" Ellen asked, wanting to make sure this is what her master wanted, considering this WAS his son.
Westcott looked down at Michael's still body for a few moments. "… he's already served his purpose. And he's brought Diva and Nightmare with him, not to mention Hermit and Berserk were under the control of Diva anyway…" He said, then added with a wider smirk: "We can extract the crystals out of them later."
"As you wish." Ellen said, then raised her blade…
WHIP GRAB!
It was then grabbed by a long shadow hand from behind her. "Hehehehe… well that won't work for me. I still haven't eaten my fill." Said Kurumi, a shadow beneath her having formed which the hand sprouted from. More hands summoned themselves, which after a second of them coming out, they rushed over towards Ellen. The Wizard didn't looked the least bit concerned at it even as the closed in…
SL-LA-LA-LA-LA-LASH!
With several sparks obscuring the screen, Ellen was then shown with multiple severed arms floating around her in slow motion before they disintegrated into shadow. Once that was done, she rushed over to the caster of those arms, and plunged her blade into Kurumi dead center. The Nightmare gagged at this, then also vanished in shadows.
"Laaaaaaaaaaa…" Miku tried controlling her with her voice, but it didn't have any affect at all just like with Kurumi. "AAAAAAAAAAA…" Miku tried a higher note while continuing her song upon seeing it wasn't working, but Ellen was still unaffected. She only gave a stare at the Diva that said: Are you done? And walked over to the unconscious boy to finish the job she was given.
'There are some things even your power can't give you!' Michael flashed and echoed in Miku's mind, making her stop in horror, and just watch… she couldn't believe it… he was right!
Tohka gasped in horror. Miku couldn't control Ellen, and even Kurumi couldn't stop her! Now panicking, she quickly got up and stomped the ground a few times, and rather hard and quickly due to stress kicking in. "Sandalphon!… Sandalphon!" She continued to stomping on the ground until finally a portion of her power had a returned to her along with her Angel. Once it manifested, Tohka (while sobbing due to the overwhelming gravity of the situation) raised the mighty blade.
SLASH!
Ellen, who was over Michael at this point, merely looked in the direction upon hearing the slash; but once she saw there was no danger, she went back to original task. Tohka, not willing to give up, tried again.
SLASH!
Tohka: I'll…
SLASH!
Tohka: Save…
SLASH!
Tohka: YOU!
SLASH!
Tohka refused to let him die. Even if still a large amount of her energy was inside Michael, he's fought tooth and nail to save her. She wasn't going to stop and let Michael be killed. While she might not be able to stop Ellen, she won't allow her to take his life without a fight.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Over and over again, Tohka tried cutting through the Territory, but it wasn't working so she went as fast as her arms would allow. "I wouldn't let them hurt you, Michael! I swear! I'll get you out of here! I promise! I wouldn't let you die!" Tohka cried, talking rather fast but her words were still very audible.
All Miku could do was watch… she couldn't move… she couldn't talk… her body was completely frozen. Seeing Kurumi fight and use her Time to get Mike a chance to talk to her, then take a blade to the chest for Michael, now Tohka was wildly slashing like a mad woman against the Territory. The Princesses voice was cracking as she was basically going on an emotional rampage. This went against everything Miku knew… she was just so conflicted. A part of her still wanted to believe this was all an act on Michael's part. But just seeing Tohka react… how hard she was crying… how she was clearly doing everything in her power to get past the shield…
Was it really true?… Could those two… especially a man… actually care about each other… genuinely?
"You can do anything to me! Anything, I don't care! Just don't hurt him! Don't hurt Michael! Leave him alone! PLEASE! Don't do this to him!" Tohka was getting more hysterical while still speaking quickly. She could see no matter how many times she tried, this barrier was not gonna budge… she wasn't strong enough… As she slowly stopping trying to break the barrier, Ellen began to position her blade above Michaels neck as if she was gonna chop a small log on a tree stump.
No… they can't do this… they can't take him away from her. Tohka began to flash back… back to all the special, yet sometimes insignificant moments she shared with Michael…
First: was the moment they first met that fateful day in the city.
Second: when Michael walked into that classroom, where she swiped energy at him a few times before he spoke to her from the heart.
Third: During the above instance, he gave her a name while helping and spelling it with her.
Fourth: they're first date, and all the kinds of food they (mostly her) ate. Then later on when her power went out of control, she slammed her lips into his, triggering his first Sealing.
Fifth: when she almost went out of control again due to misinterpreted him packing stuff up as him going away.
Sixth: her catching him with Yoshino, and of course when a new emotion (jealously) kicked in.
Seventh: both her and Origami having made Michael cookies.
Eighth: her destroying the arcade games when she was in a mood due to Origami.
Ninth: her trying to seduce Michael with the "seduction techniques", then of course he failing by him catching onto her act and holding her back while reading that letter.
Tenth: when Kurumi first appeared, when she and Origami fell out of the broom closet.
Eleventh: when she agreed to help Michael with "ground support" when Origami interjected herself into Michael's date with Kurumi.
Twelfth: very recently when they performed together in that contest with Miku.
Thirteenth: when they both wielded Sandalphon together to stop Kaguya and Yuzuru from fighting.
Finally: that very special kiss they were getting ready to share under that sunset…
Back in the present time; Ellen then brought her blade above herself. The sight of this gave Tohka a knot in her stomach, her heart feeling like it stopped beating… everything was going in slow motion… and Ellen began to bring her weapon down…
Tohka: … MMMIIIIIIICHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEL!
Time stopped. Tohka felt weird… weightless… as if she was falling into a dark abyss. Then a giant hand made of darkness grabbed her from behind… enclosing her inside…
CRACK! SHATTER!
The Territory in the room was finally destroyed, but a dark energy was around Tohka, which was spreading all around the room from having burst out of the Spirit. It was so thick… so heavy… giving Miku and even Ellen an uneasy feeling. The idol instinctively braced with her arms the moment it happened, and the Wizard had to snap her head in the direction of the outburst of energy at the same time.
It wasn't a dark feeling like Kurumi's energy… it felt… negative…