Omake Challenge: Team "Love Conquers All"
Starcade
Stone
Team “Love Conquers All”: Sora (Robbins-)Naegino, Ken Robbins, and
Layla Hamilton from the “Kaleido Star” series, and me, Michael
Falkner.
Somehow, I knew this was going to be one of those days.
I had just attended a convention over the weekend, and have a nice
cold (not a nasty one, but my roommate is now semi-refusing to speak
to me (with good reason!)) to show for it.
So I thought I was seeing things this morning when a flash of light
abruptly woke me up, and then I really thought I was dreaming when I
saw one of the my challenge teams from last year in front of me...
Layla: “I think we scared him!”
Sora: “Mike, it's OK... You set up the machine, but we had it bring
us here...”
Me: “Don't come too close. I have a cold...”
Layla: “Glad I brought these, then. I'm not taking any chances, my
friend. We have the garbage over where we came from too...”
I immediately get a face-mask slapped over my face (and many
replacements), and quietly dressed and shussed out the door.
Me: “Would someone kindly tell me what the Hell is going on? We're
six weeks from New Year's, so it can't be that urgent...”
Ken: “I'm afraid it is, Michael.”
Me: “Oh, wonderful...”
I soon get put in a car and we speed off, destination unknown...
25 miles out of my hometown, Sora looks at me and begins what amounts
to a significant recap.
Sora: “We've got some things to cover, which might explain our early
arrival.”
“First, we didn't stop that tribe...”
Me: “What??? But I specifically remember both of you kissing me back
in...”
Layla smiled that smile.
Layla: “You were dreaming, my dear. But you wouldn't be if I pulled
over now and we both would kiss you, which we would if you didn't have
a cold!”
All I could think of at that moment: Rats.
Sora chuckled.
Layla: “So when I came to, I noticed we were – how do I put this –
someplace else...”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Layla: “I'm still not sure, but I saw a bunch of supernatural beings
putting you and Ken back together, almost literally. I was quite
disturbed, thinking I saw them literally reattach your arm...”
I could only rotate both my arms at the shoulders and wonder what the
Hell she was talking about!
Sora: “I think they ate you.”
I almost vomited then and there.
Sora: “Anyway, let's get off that subject...”
Now my thoughts were: Yes, let's...
Layla: “So, once I was cleared to head back to Cape Mercy, I noticed
my shoulder was still in the same questionable condition it's been in
for years...”
“So I decided to have a few words with our helpers to see if they
could finish the job.”
“They said 'No.'”
I had noticed my ankle was still in the same condition it had been in
since I broke it three years ago.
Layla: “Needless to say, I wasn't happy. So they referred me to 'The
Master Summoner', and we had ourselves a little talk – not only about
my shoulder, but the challenges. And I have never meant such an
arrogant f...”
Sora: “LAYLA!! We expect Michael to say words like that...”
I chuckled.
Me: “I think she's learning from me...”
Layla: “You know it, baby.”
Ken (finally speaking up, with my laptop): “So we got back, and we
basically began training for that tour we were telling you about...”
“Then, the Swine Flu hit, and everything got cancelled...”
Me: “Oh no.”
My heart sunk. I knew that, not only would this have given that
entire crew a chance to work together again, but Sora and Ken were
getting married back at Kaleido Stage at the final show.
Layla: “So the insurance company paid off the investors and
performers handsomely, as agreed – and we still don't have a
prospective future on the physical Kaleido Stage buildings or
property. They're being rented out for living quarters and the like.”
I then noticed Sora's hand had a different ring.
Me: “And I guess Ken and Sora couldn't wait any longer.”
Ken smiled. “Nope. We went to Vegas shortly after the insurance
settlement and had a grand ceremony, inviting everyone.”
Layla: “We tried to bring you over, but, for some odd reason, we
couldn't...”
Me: “I think you pissed off the Master Summoner.”
Layla: “Well, that brings us to why we came over early this year,
because it sounds like, if that were the case, we aren't the only
ones!!”
That got my interest...
Me: “And how the Hell are you getting a connection in this car,
Ken??”
Ken: “Internet card. I knew we'd have your laptop...”
Me: “Good point. So what's the scoop?”
Layla: “Funny thing is... WE got the Challenge Summons this time,
because Bill wasn't sure whether you had pissed so many people off
that they wouldn't bother sending you the Summons...”
Me: “Well, I got something that looked like a Summons, but I figured
it was only a test, because...”
Layla: “Then we have some stuff to discuss, because you need to know
what's going on...”
“Ken, do you have a copy of the video that was part of the Summons in
the laptop now?”
Ken: “Yep. Got it uploaded.”
Sora: “Give it to him, then...”
–
A couple minutes later, I wanted to go home...
Me: “Great! One year, we get to deal with the Hate Plague, and lose
because the San Francisco Police Department couldn't quarantine a city
block, much less a city...”
“Then we get to deal with a bunch of cannibals who have no sense of
what a God is, and we lose on that regard...”
“And now, even before New Year's, Bill needs us to bail him out,
because The Master Summoner got pissed and decided to make our entire
planet like the 'Thrilla in Manila' that Deborah Gibson made San
Francisco into for collateral damage in 'Mega Shark vs. Giant
Octopus'...”
We had pulled over by this point, so everyone looked at me as if I had
grown a third eye...
Me: “OK, so you never saw the movie... I figure she was getting back
at me anyway!!”
The group shrugged, not getting that either.
Me: “Basically, for his entertainment, The Master Summoner – in the
hopes of creating a 'Who Can Top This Havoc?” competition, has sent
Dante from Full Metal Alchemist, Rezo from Slayers, and freaking Lord
Voldemort...”
Sora: “Shhh... He's not to be...”
Me: “It's too late for that, Sora!! He's already here, and he
figures he can get a Philosopher's Stone to take back to his world,
kill Harry Potter, and reverse what's about to happen to him in the
final book and movie...”
Ken: “So what the HELL are we going to do?”
Me: “Probably about the same we did for some of the other
challenges. Try to find a weakness and exploit it!”
“We do have a couple of advantages here.”
“First: They're not going to work together. From what the Summons
has told us, they're not going to try to stop each other from creating
havoc, but they do not want the others to create that much havoc.”
“Second: I can assume, at this point, that that means that they will
spend their time waiting for one of them to 'make the first move'. So
we should only have to deal with one of them at a time.”
Layla: “So what do we know??”
Me: “Well, let's see: Rezo is a white mage. So, inherently, he's a
healer. Now, he's been corrupted because, in exchange for this power,
a great demon king (a 'fragment' of which is in him) has taken his
sight, and he cannot cure that.”
Sora: “So his main weakness in this competition is two-fold. He
cannot, in and of himself, create the havoc...”
Ken gasped when he went over to the latest news...
Ken: “But I think he's got a good idea as to how he can... Layla,
get us to the airport, they're trying to take down Broadway –
LITERALLY!!”
As we left, Sora asked: “And what's the second?”
I replied: “Unlike the other two, there might be an Angel Heart of
his to save!”
Part One: Stemming the Tidal Wave of the Sick, as the Red Priest
Madly Performs Miracles: Rezo the Red Priest
We got to New York as quickly as we could.
Getting to Times Square, however, was another matter.
So, while we were wading through even more insane traffic (mostly
pedestrian), we finally found out what the fuss was.
Not like every sign that basically noted that “The Savior Has
Returned!”, “The End is Here!!”, “Repent or Die in Hell!!!”, or
somesuch didn't tell us.
Ken: “Dear God, how do we get close to him!”
Layla Hamilton was looking for someone in the crowd...
Sora: “What's wrong?”
Layla: “I was looking for Cathy Taymor, but, in the chaos, forgot
she's not here...”
Sora: “But, to answer my dear's question, we don't have to get that
close to Rezo.”
Me: “But what can we do to stop this chaos?”
Sora: “Open up the Angel Hearts of the crowd... And remember what
Michael said to us back in California, in that we can open an Angel
Heart of Rezo as well...”
Layla: “But can we do the Angel's Maneuver here?”
Sora: “Remember what I said to Michael a couple of years ago: 'With
love, all things are possible...'”
Ken: “But who will be our devil to raise our angels?”
Sora (with an impish grin): “That's easy. Go get us a trampoline,
and our devil here will raise us angels...”
I smiled. Sora has gotten to know me over the years. Ken went off to
get something to use as a trampoline, and the two ladies briefed me.
Layla: “Our task is to stop the chaos, right? So what we will do is
perform a modified version of the Angel's Maneuver to try to calm the
crowd.”
Sora: “All we need to do is have you be our 'devil' to raise us
'angels'. We'll jump up on the trampoline, and use the horizontal
flagpoles around Times Square as our bars...”
Me: “I hope to blazes this works...”
Layla: “Trust us, OK?”
They didn't know that, especially recently, I could use my Angel Heart
opened, if there was anything left of it. It probably opened a little
bit when Layla hugged me. It definitely opened a little more when
Sora did.
Forty-five minutes later, we had somehow procured one of the police
trampolines/catchers for jumpers off some buildings.
I was positioned at one of the wide ledges just above to allow myself
to reach and “raise” Sora and Layla.
The crowd was still pushing, shoving, trampling, and all to get Rezo,
whose miracles were now being broadcast all over Times Square!
Ken: “Hurry, you three... We haven't a second to lose!”
A couple of police officers (basically thinking all was realistically
lost, and they were willing to try anything) aided in getting the
trampoline into precise position, and Layla began to bounce on it.
At first, a few of the guys were more wolf-whistling at her, but, when
she went skyward, that ceased.
Wonder replaced it as I grabbed Layla's one good arm and hoisted her
further into the air.
Sora quickly followed, as they began to criss-cross Times Square
(well, just after Layla blew me a kiss after I hoisted her), flying
from flagpole to awning to whatever they could find to jump off of.
The crowd began to look up in awe as the two Kaleido Stars put on a
performance not seen in the real world (except maybe in Cirque du
Soleil).
Then, as the news reports would later state, they began to cry.
They thought of friends... Brothers... Sisters... Spouses...
Sons... Daughters... Soulmates... Co-Workers...
They thought of experiences: Marriages... Births... Graduations...
First Loves... Championships... Acts of Heroism...
Many had remembered 9/11 and how the city pulled together afterward.
The oddest things began happening, as, with some breaks to head back
to the trampoline (and, eventually, to rest, from time to time), the
ladies continued for some time performing, as the massive crowd who
was literally about to kill each other to get to Rezo the Red Priest
had their Angel Hearts opened.
Now, people who were trampling each other were finding the worst-
injured in the mob and ensuring, as safely as possible, their
expedient movement to the front of the line.
People who were cursing at each other were now ensuring that proper
resources were available to feed the crowd and deal with all the other
needs required.
Many were apologizing and aiding each other. Friends who had serious
disagreements sobbed and embraced.
And the last in the area, where thousands had their Angel Hearts
opened, to have their Angel Hearts opened, was me. I don't know what
happened, but I remembered all the challenges that I had with the
various members of Kaleido Stage.
I remembered the cute-sexy picture of Rosetta.
The day Ken finally proposed to Sora...
The day Anna, Layla, Mia, and I disarmed Marller...
And I smiled. And that's when Sora came down, as she even had opened
Rezo's Angel Heart...
Sora: “We did it. They're all helping each other now. Layla's
talking to Rezo now...”
A couple of hours later, Layla walked to us, rotating her arm on her
(formerly!) bad shoulder!
Ken: “He healed it!!”
Layla: “Yes he did. It was the least he could do.”
Rezo: “Forgive me, friends. I only wish for my own sight. Your
performance, though I could not see it, not only calmed the crowd, but
calmed my obsession and my rage.”
Sora: “We will pray that, someday, you may regain your sight. All we
ask is that you don't let your obsession nor rage consume you. You
have many who still want healing.”
Rezo: “And I shall seek them out, and heal them. It's all I can do
for the damage I have caused. But I tell you, there is no Angel Heart
in the other two who seek the Philosopher's Stone. I needed my Angel
Heart to be opened to stop the obsession which was consuming me. ”
Me: “No, the others do not have Angel Hearts. But we shall find a
way to take care of Voldemort and Dante...”
Rezo: “I pray you will.”
Layla: “Could you do my friend a favor? Heal his left ankle.”
Rezo: “Of course...”
At that, Rezo took my left foot, laid hands on it, and healed my once-
broken ankle (which was still periodically giving me fits), to the
applause of the calmed crowd.
Sora: “Could you do him one more?? Heal his soul.”
Rezo bowed his head.
Rezo: “I have learned there are limits to white magic. I can heal
ailments, but I cannot heal everything, else I would heal not only my
own sight, but my own soul as well. I hope you will be able to find a
space in which your soul can find peace.”
“Sora, you and Layla could heal Michael more than I can.”
All I could do was smile at them, which they (and Ken) returned.
Rezo: “I have many to still attend to – I must go.”
Me: “Keep the peace, and we shall have no continued quarrel with
you.”
Rezo: “Done.”
Rezo bowed his head to us, and asked the crowd to peaceably let him
return to where he was healing.
With that, the crowd erupted for us as we took our leave. There were
no further problems, as the Angel Hearts of those assembled helped
keep the peace through their combined efforts, even of those who had
just come upon the place.
The video screens around Times Square periodically played the modified
Angel's Maneuver performance to help keep the peace, as the police had
even seen their Angel Hearts opened.
Several hours later, as we headed back toward my home on the plane,
Layla took me by the hand.
Layla: “I do hope that, one day, your heart and soul can be healed.”
Me: “I hope so too. I really do...”
Just as we were to have a deep philosophical moment, though...
Ken: “Guys, you might want to check out what's freaking out a lot of
the people on this plane right now!”
The two of us hurried back to our seats as Sora and Ken were prepared
to give us a rundown of what they had just seen on CNN.
Sora: “We've got our second problem.”
Ken: “And is it a doozy!!!”
Part Two: Showdown at Staples Center: Dante
We landed in Los Angeles and nearly had to be held back by security,
as we were literally sprinting out of LAX.
Ken: “Dante, the body-switching alchemist, is creating, seemingly out
of thin air, a massive contraption which has trapped 18,000 Lakers
fans inside the Staples Center.”
Sora: “What could she be up to?”
I stopped.
I got a very dark look on my face, as I realized, from our research...
Me: “She's going to kill every last one of them.”
Everyone within about 30 yards of us just stopped.
Me: “And I fear you are going to hate my guts for what I fear I have
to propose.”
“Ken, get me a car, because we need some privacy... Now.”
Ken rented a car, and we headed into Los Angeles.
When I exposed my plan, Layla screeched the car to the side of the
road and stopped it.
Ken: “You're going to WHAT???”
Me: “Ken, please listen to me, because this is important...”
Sora: “Have you gone out of your mind?”
Me: “There are those who have said that I have always been out of my
mind, Sora...”
Layla: “I'm skeptical, but I will listen to this...”
Ken: “Well, I don't want to be party to this...”
Me: “I didn't expect you nor Sora to take this well, but you need to
know what we are up against, so I saved a copy of a website with
biographical information on this opponent to my computer...”
Sora, very reluctantly, handed me my laptop.
Me: “We are dealing with a murderous bitch...”
Sora: “But that doesn't make you murdering her right!”
Me: “I'll get to that in a moment.”
“Dante is the main source of evil in the Full Metal Alchemist
demimonde. She is an ancient alchemist, at least 400 years old, and
probably 2400 years old...”
Layla: “How is that possible?”
Me: “Her motivation for taking part in this contest that this 'Master
Summoner' has come up with... She can only prolong her life by
jumping bodies by the use of a Philosopher's Stone.”
Sora: “So she wishes to win one to have the opportunity to continue
her life through someone else's body.”
Me: “Precisely. And she won't stop there. She will gladly create
her own Philosopher's Stones to do the same effect.”
Ken: “How does she do that?”
Me: “Mass murder.”
Sora vomited on the side of the road.
Me: “I'm serious. She has no qualms about killing hundreds, if
necessary, as a mass human sacrifice is required for the creation (at
least by her) of a Philosopher's Stone.”
Now, Sora wasn't the only one feeling sick to stomach.
Me: “She's manipulative, and likes to prey on those who have nothing
left to lose...”
The conversation stopped as Sora gasped.
Sora: “You aren't suggesting you don't...”
Me: “The last time I was in New York City, before this situation with
Rezo, I was adjudged to go there with one purpose: Murder my idol.
Murder the person who meant more to me than my life itself.”
“I spent a year in jail and almost ten years homeless afterward. In
many ways, even working with you guys, I have nothing left to lose in
life. Life -- as you well know, Sora – is about perceptions, not
necessarily realities.”
“You withdrew from the Paris Festival on the principle of the
competition – that sabotage was the order of the day and you wanted no
part of it. Even though you were very correct to disown the sabotage
which was the order of the...”
Sora interrupted: “And I want no part of this, Michael...”
Me: “Would you then be willing to be party to watching Dante
sacrifice 18,000 Lakers' fans, who are being held hostage in the
Staples' Center for a mass sacrifice for Dante to create a
Philosopher's Stone, or maybe ten of them, to continue this madness in
our world AND hers?”
Sora cried. She knew that was a decision she did not want to make.
Me: “She has destroyed two entire cities to feed her bloodlust and
the resultant creation of Philosopher's Stones, Sora. She will
completely level Los Angeles if we don't stop her (and may not stop
there, even after 'winning' the Master Summoner's challenge)– and that
means she must die within the body she is in now.”
“Yes, Sora, cold-blooded murder. And I plan to carry it out.”
Sora sobbed. She ordered Layla to drive her and Ken to the nearest
exit, where a second car would be rented.
Me: “I expected neither you nor Ken to be party to this, Sora. All I
ask is that you understand that the destruction of Dante's body is
necessary. If I am adjudged capable of hurting the person I care
about the most, it is only arrogance to believe someone like Dante
should expect better.”
“All I ask is that you trust me, and be there when we start planning
to take on Voldemort.”
Layla then walked up to me.
Layla: “I'll do it. I'll help you.”
Sora and Ken gasped.
Layla: “I will help you do what must be done. You present a grave
danger, and you wish to exact a form of revenge against those who
believe you capable...”
Ken: “But won't he be proving them right?”
Layla: “Depends on your interpretation. I think the question he
proposes to Sora is a good one. Dante has zero qualms about killing
every living being in Los Angeles to create new life for herself.”
“She is the ultimate mass murderer, even worse than all of the despots
we read about in our history books.”
“Trust me. I trust Michael. I probably shouldn't, but I do. I know
there is also much darkness in Michael's heart, and I ask that we
provide him the light to get back out.”
“I'll see you in 18 hours in Riverside, win or lose. I'll come back
alone if he fails.”
Sora cried, embraced Layla, and then ran to the car and the car sped
off, Ken getting Sora as far away from my plan as possible.
Layla: “I owe you several anyway for trusting me last year.”
“So, what's the plan...”
The plan was simple: Knowing that I was in no position to negotiate
with Dante, I would simply offer myself, as a poor American in a
collapsing economy with a criminal past and a lot of negative baggage,
as someone with nothing to lose – only needing time and a private
setting to tell Dante about it all. At a key moment, I would embrace
Dante to seal the deal.
Behind Dante's back, silently, Layla would sneak up and hand me a
knife. The deed would be done from there.
Three hours later, and after going over it with a fine-toothed comb,
we walked to a very eerie sight: The Staples Center, with alchemist-
made death implements ready to level it, and everything around it...
LA Live, the LA Convention Center, half of downtown LA...
With that, we walked into the Staples Center through the one side door
which was not welded shut through alchemy, knowing who was inside...
Layla: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil...”
Me: “Yeah. Just be there to give me the knife at the right moment.”
We went near the arena floor, where Dante was imploring anyone with
nothing left to lose to join her side of the equation.
I motioned to Layla to follow the action silently, and I called out to
Dante that she now had a willing accomplice, but that the two of us
needed to talk quietly, alone...
Dante looked up, shocked, to see me walking toward her, beckoning to
head to the locker rooms.
The whole crowd seemed to shudder en masse. A willing accomplice all
but meant their deaths, and there were not enough exits which would
not create that level of death anyway. Dante had welded most of the
exits shut, trapping us inside, for all intent and purpose.
Finally, in the hallway outside the Laker locker room (where the
Lakers themselves all but had accepted their deaths, and were simply
awaiting them), it seemed Dante and I were the only two on Earth.
I told her my story. All of it. I told her of the schooling, the
incidents, the police involvements, New York...
… and that's when Dante smiled. She knew she had one...
Dante: “You do realize that, once we finish off all these foolish
mortals, the Philosopher's Stone can give you anything. It can give
you wealth and power beyond all your wildest imaginations...”
Me: “Wealth which will be necessary to survive the chaos which is
already set in motion. Being homeless for ten years has left a
lasting impression on the necessity of wealth...”
Dante: “I can give you that. I can give you authority over anything
you desire. I can give you... her.”
And I knew precisely the “her” Dante was talking about. And it wasn't
any of the Kaleido Stagers.
Dante: “Who knows? She may be here tonight! You can have her for
all eternity, because you will own her...”
I smiled. For all Dante knew, I had wanted to commit the very act she
was proposing.
Dante: “Are you willing to sign over, essentially, your entire being
– to serve me???”
Just then, Layla had made her way to the opposite side. One sound by
Layla, and it would all be over.
Me: “May we seal this deal with the devil with an embrace?”
Dante, knowing that she was going to give me nothing, agreed and
walked forward.
I walked to her. Layla walked to the both of us, where Dante could
not see – behind her back.
Dante's decaying body felt cold, as if death itself had already
overtaken it. She embraced me, and it felt as if I had died.
I slowly moved closer to Dante, not even caring that my stomach made
me want to vomit all over the bitch.
I slowly returned the embrace – but I did not lock my hands.
Layla slowly handed me the knife, so carefully...
The last words to seal the deal were mine:
“And may God forgive me for what I am about to do...”
Dante: “There is no GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH....”
I plunged the knife into her back, far away from the hands which would
doom me with her alchemy.
Me: “Layla, run as far and as fast as you can!!!”
I twisted the knife, and sliced it down her back in one less-than-
subtle motion.
Dante's body, already decaying, was losing blood rapidly. Dante would
be dead within seconds.
She had one parting shot for me...
Dante: “But... why..... I could've given you.... everything....
And, yet.... Once again.... You choose.... to have....
nothing............”
Dante's last words.
Me: “What no one understands, not even 'her': I do what I do for my
own reasons. Not for any perceived reasons which people ascribe to
me. Otherwise, I am not safe anywhere, anytime...”
“If you wish to believe those common perceptions, you must have me
eliminated from civilized society before I spill blood.”
“You are the first to see that true capability which has been given
me. May you also be the last.”
The Lakers came out of the locker room to see Dante dead and her blood
all over my hands and arms...
They all shook their heads and turned away. They had had a long
enough day to begin with.
It would take the police everything in their power to successfully
extricate the Staples Center and successfully defuse the situation.
Only one life was lost, and she had made that decision when she took
the actions she had.
As for me, there wasn't a police officer in Los Angeles who would not
see this as a justifiable act, given the extreme circumstances.
I was just asked to leave, and give the city time to heal and build.
I was taken to a local psychiatic hospital for 12 hours of
observation, and quickly put asleep with a strong sedative. Layla
went to a hotel to rest, but returned as soon as I awoke.
Layla: “Promise me that is the only body you will ever murder.”
Me: “I can only promise you... That is a space I dare not go.”
Layla: “You damned right.”
“Murder repulses me, Michael. But I helped you for two reasons:”
“One, you have trusted me and all of the other members of Kaleido
Stage, even when we have proposed, honestly, rather outrageous plans.
You have gone along, even when you weren't sure they would work – and,
sometimes, they, bluntly, have not.”
“Second, it was the only way we could act on the challenge. Dante's
body had to be eliminated from the equation, or she would find her
accomplice and bloodbath the entire area, as she had those other two
cities. Sora wouldn't do it. Ken wouldn't do it. I couldn't wield
the knife.”
“I do not know what we will find in Riverside. We go to the Marriott
near your apartment complex now. We have three hours to meet with
them. I hope they are there, at the least to meet me.”
I nodded. I felt a cold energy... I knew it was something which had
been in me all along.
And all I could do was silently pray that if I ever had to tap into
that again, it would be for well, not ill.
We made it back to Riverside and found the hotel. Layla told me to
return to my apartment and wait.
Minutes felt like hours, hours felt like days.
I tried to call Layla's cell several times, but she would not answer
it.
Had I lost the trust of the Kaleido Stagers forever?
I even had to admit that I probably committed the one act which would
qualify for that loss of trust.
After a few hours, Sora finally walked out, tears in her eyes.
Sora: “I just want to know one thing... Why??”
Me: “First, because I could. Second, because I had to.”
“As I told you, Dante had no qualms about killing the entire planet,
except for those she elected to keep alive to keep herself alive. As
long as she breathed, she was going to kill, even above and beyond the
Master Summoner's Challenge.”
“I have a very dark side, Sora. I am convinced, and have been
adjudged, that I could kill someone, if the situation presented
itself. Even that I love more than my own life. That is my burden.
That is what I carry from my past. Not a criminal record, not the
loss of people whom I care about...”
“The knowledge that there is a great darkness within me, Sora
Naegino. If you wish to leave, too, I can't blame you.”
Sora was now bawling, as she threw her arms around me, almost beating
on my back to make the point.
Sora: “I couldn't leave you, Michael. You have so much to offer me.
You've given me so much. You've given me Ken as a husband for life,
as you were the impetus to bring that forward.”
“I just don't want you to succumb to the darkness.”
Me: “You know I cannot make that guarantee 100%.”
Ken: “Then give us the opportunity to help you.”
Me: “I'll do my best, but Voldemort may well be a darker opponent.”
Sora: “You leave him to us! We have a plan.”
Layla: “And we'll also use the New Year's Challenges to start to
bring you out of the darkness. The other ladies will be more than
happy to help...”
Ken: “As will Yuri and Leon...”
Me: “Or at the very least, try...”
Layla: “So, do we have a deal?”
I shrugged my shoulders and said “Sure...”
A group hug followed.
Sora: “Good, because we have to go to London. Voldemort's going
after Wembley Stadium as a terrorist act.”
Me: “Oh crud. And with the police-state situation in the UK as it
is, that would be chaos on two scales...”
Ken: “Exactly why he chose it! To the airport!!”
Part Three: He Who Must Not Only Not Be Named, But Not Be Allowed To
Succeed, At Any Cost
The air in London was literally filled with death. Voldemort was
already levitating over Wembley Stadium, as all efforts to down him
failed.
The only thing which apparently prevented him from killing everything
in his path already: his arrogance.
Voldemort wanted the Philosopher's Stone.
Voldemort: “I have been sent to create chaos throughout this world so
that I may gain a Philosopher's Stone and kill Harry Potter and rule
all universes, where the Death Eaters and I shall reign over your
worthless carcasses.”
We could hear that voice, even halfway across London.
Ken: “How does he DO that?”
Layla: “It's part of his magic.”
Sora: “He's far too powerful for us to take on in even a group
assault. He could just pick us off one by one...”
“What's required to defeat him is a true sacrifice, and I...”
Ken gasped.
Sora: “Wait.”
Sora looked at me a second.
Sora: “I just thought of something. It's complicated, but go with me
on this for a second...”
Ken: “Honey, you aren't proposing sacrificing yourself...”
Sora: “No, my Ken, I do not. I had, but for a moment.”
Layla: “But if not you, and not me nor Ken...”
They all looked at me now.
Me: “If I have truly nothing left to lose, I am a suitable
sacrifice. And now that I have killed someone...”
Ken: “But how can I let that happen, much less you, Sora?”
Layla: “Yeah, we all know of the sacrifices we've made for Kaleido
Stage and since... But this is Michael's death...”
Sora: “He's already been killed, as were we all, when we failed in
the Solomon Islands and the kamis had to fix us, remember?”
“He sacrificed himself, not knowing whether that option that he could
be 'restored', was, in fact, open to him when he accepted not only the
challenge, but our “Golden Phoenix” plan of action.”
“He sacrifices himself to this day because he cares about us and wants
us to succeed.”
“And he made that final sacrifice just now in Los Angeles. He
sacrificed himself to the darkness when he knew he had to kill
Dante...”
I began to cry myself. Layla put her arms around me.
Layla: “And, as we saw in Voldemort's biographical information,
Michael has accepted mortality, in that Voldemort has not.”
“We know that he is honest with us with his darkness. In that,
Voldemort might be able to drive him mad, but we all know that Michael
is not unwilling to 'dance in the fire'.”
I began to smile.
Me: “Does this mean what I think it does?”
Sora: “Since you have already paid the price – and Voldemort didn't
know, in previous defeats, that sufficient price had been paid in
loving sacrifice to rise against him and what he stood for...”
Me: “Then you want me to get in the middle of it... You know I like
to be in the action...”
Layla: “That's right. But, if you fail, we must attempt what we had
originally planned, to take his wand.”
Ken: “But don't we fear our own deaths, in that realm?”
Layla: “Why fear it when it won't happen? And, even if it did, we
know that those in charge of the Challenges won't let us be erased
from our own world...”
Sora: “We'll perform this perfectly, won't we, Michael?”
Me: “Take me to center stage...”
At that point, we marshalled a car and got as close as we could while
they pulled up Voldemort's information.
Ken: “We always look for a weakness when we are at this kind of
disadvantage.”
Sora: “And, as we talked about, he has two we can easily exploit,
especially with someone considered so arrogant as you around,
Michael.”
I was stung a bit by that...
Layla: “Only considered as such...”
Sora: “So if someone can 'question his manhood', as it were...”
Ken: “He'd be immediately annihilated...”
Layla: “Not if he was considered so inferior that it wasn't worth it
than to more than toy with him.”
Ken: “But what of us?”
Sora: “Effectively, we cannot be involved. If Voldemort sees us and
knows Michael cares about us...”
Ken: “And he will read Michael's mind without question, so he'll
know...”
Layla: “It's a one-way ticket to reattachment land...”
I just sat back and listened. I had to get myself intense for this
one.
Sora: “So he basically goes in and challenges Voldemort with HIS
bravado...”
Ken: “Right. When Voldemort finally tires of him and goes for the
kill, we hope for the best.”
Layla: “Got it.”
At that point, we got as close as we could (a couple of miles), and
got out to walk the rest of the way.
I got a pep talk from the two ladies before we went in.
Sora: “We don't fear death. We have a manifestation of life so
strong that it keeps death itself at bay.”
Layla: “Such is the Legendary Great Maneuver.”
Sora: “I hope we impart that on you.”
Layla: “And please come back to us alive...”
The three of us hugged, we waved goodbye. Layla left her cell number
in my pocket (not that I hadn't almost memorized it in Riverside...).
They got in the car and left.
20 minutes later (had to make sure they were far away from this
chaos), I approached Wembley.
The Mosmordre (the Dark Mark) was unmistakeable. Voldemort was there,
ready to create havoc, an army, and the means to kill Harry Potter and
take over everything.
Then I just decided to start by getting stupid.
I was going to antagonize the asshole.
Me: “HEY!! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE???”
I can say it got his attention. He turned around, trying to figure
out what was actually brazen enough to actually question his authority
over the entire situation.
Voldemort: “Who dares question me? What worm...”
Me: “I do. What the Hell are you doing, and who do you think you
are?”
Voldemort: “I'm preparing to take over all worlds with the
Philosopher's Stone. After I win this Stone, I will kill Harry
Potter, using all your dead bodies as the means to have my Death
Eaters all over the...”
Me: “You didn't answer my other question... Who the Hell do you
think you are?”
Voldemort's brow curled. He began to invade my mind to try to figure
out exactly what I had in mind.
His face contorted. His eyes bugged out of that inhuman frame...
Then he smiled.
Voldemort: “You want me to kill you, thinking your sacrifice is more
than my death magic can take.”
I tensed. I forgot he could read minds with absolute precision,
especially those of non-magical types.
Voldemort: “You aren't even worth killing, worm.”
“You don't even have the magical means to challenge me, so you are no
threat. But I do need a body to aid in my murder of Harry Potter and
my takeover of all worlds...”
“So, for your records, you may call me... GOD...”
Me: “Well, GOD... May I then have the pleasure of telling you to go
to HELL!!!”
Voldemort: “Don't you see? I am superior to you in every way...”
Me: “Do I look like I care in the slightest??”
His face contorted again – this time, it was a full invasion. I now
had thoughts of murder, again and again and again... Sora one time,
Layla the next, “her”, my family...
I began to sink to one knee until I remembered that Voldemort's
visions were just that, visions.
Me: “You know that which is within me, Voldemort. And yet, you
cannot have it.”
Voldemort: “Oh, can't I???”
With that, he raised his hands and his wand...
My head began to spin wildly. I knew what this was. He was trying to
take over. In most cases, for a normal human, this would be a trivial
matter.
But there was one problem, and Voldemort had experienced it before.
The mind he was trying to take was one who had a lot of pain.
Anger... Grief...
Voldemort: “No... You're like Harry... Full of grief... You've
lost everything that you've cared about, and... AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
I knew that a mind full of grief could well drive Voldemort mad. I
now only hoped that it would cause him to make his mistake.
Voldemort: “Your will is strong, but not strong enough... AVADA
KEDAVRA!!!!”
I knew what that meant. The Unforgivable Killing Curse... I waited
for the light of the wand, and the mad Lord Voldemort to kill me. I
spread my arms to await it...
…...............................
The next thing I knew, it was a weird feeling...
Not completely unlike when I was fixed by the kamis the last time, but
I was back in Riverside.
I was laying on the ground in the park for some strange reason...
I looked up to see... Rosetta???
Rosetta: “Good to see you back with us. Voldemort is gone. London
is safe.”
I sat up as May came over.
Me: “What the Hell?? And I didn't summon you guys just yet....”
May: “Sora and Ken, the lovebirds, did – silly...”
I sighed.
Me: “So what day is it?”
Mia: “It's Christmas Day! And you woke up just in time!!”
Anna: “Yeah. We got tired of entertaining your roommate...”
I shook my head.
Me: “How the Hell did I survive the Killing Curse?”
Sora: “Either the kamis or the fact that he couldn't muster the
willpower to successfully complete it. But, that doesn't matter. The
challenge said to prevent the chaos by 'whatever means necessary'...”
Layla: “And we think you did wonderfully. So we have seven days to
rest, and pick teams for the Challenges to come...”
Me: “Well, I guess let's go find the others so we can pick teams for
a week from now...”
(END OF STORY --- NOTES FOLLOW)
Whew. Bill, that was a handful, and I'm still not certain this isn't
more than a wing and a prayer, but...
Anyhow, a quick primer on the defeats:
Rezo: Angel's Maneuver (modified for the environment) to open the
Angel Hearts of the crowd and, eventually, Rezo, to subdue the
situation.
Dante: Knife in the back. I explained that to you in the e-mail.
Voldemort: Challenge his manhood, the grief (and all the other stuff)
in my mind make him lose focus, and his Killing Curse fails (at least
enough to force him to flee the situation, rather than know he has won
and wreak the chaos) as a result and he basically is forced to
abandon, not unlike when he attempted to use the curse on Harry Potter
several times.
(Even if the kamis have to fix me up again afterward.)
Voldemort might be a bit weak on the tactics, but, as I told you in
the e-mail, it's not the win/loss – it's the fact that I want to give
an answer to the Challenges if I am going to post one.
Thanks again, and can't wait to see what you come up with in seven
days.
Bill Martin
> Omake Challenge: Three Big Nasties in a Race for the Philosopher's
> Stone
>
> Team “Love Conquers All”: Sora (Robbins-)Naegino, Ken Robbins, and
> Layla Hamilton from the “Kaleido Star” series, and me, Michael
> Falkner.
Okay, time to dig in to a serious attempt, with commentary on certain points.
> So I thought I was seeing things this morning when a flash of light
> abruptly woke me up, and then I really thought I was dreaming when I
> saw one of the my challenge teams from last year in front of me...
>
> Layla: “I think we scared him!”
Unexpected appearances seem to do that. Rob Kelk & I have had similar
experinces in challenge related fics.
Temporal physics and the conservation of the storyline. If someone was
plucked out of a story and cured of paralysis or anything when they
shouldn't be, the story would be corrupted. Breaks the hearts of some
of the "Healing Tent" crew, but they understand after years of working
on the challenges.
> I had noticed my ankle was still in the same condition it had been in
> since I broke it three years ago.
>
> Layla: “Needless to say, I wasn't happy. So they referred me to 'The
> Master Summoner', and we had ourselves a little talk – not only about
> my shoulder, but the challenges. And I have never meant such an
> arrogant f...”
Arrogant? I'd say adamant on certain points... of course, if she
hadnt' used several different insults in trying to persuade me, she
wouldn't have gotten the response she did.
> Sora: “LAYLA!! We expect Michael to say words like that...”
>
> I chuckled.
>
> Me: “I think she's learning from me...”
>
> Layla: “You know it, baby.”
Oh great...
> Layla: “We tried to bring you over, but, for some odd reason, we
> couldn't...”
>
> Me: “I think you pissed off the Master Summoner.”
No, it's just that after last year's fiasco with their summoner, it was
remotely disabled, and is no longer capable of summoning anything. If
they had technology similar to the time windows Rob & I have used (his
a regular thing, but not allowable in challenges to bring Love Hina
characters in through a back door, and mine a one-time thing) that can
cross dimensions, they could've brought you over.
> “And now, even before New Year's, Bill needs us to bail him out,
> because The Master Summoner got pissed and decided to make our entire
> planet like the 'Thrilla in Manila' that Deborah Gibson made San
> Francisco into for collateral damage in 'Mega Shark vs. Giant
> Octopus'...”
>
> We had pulled over by this point, so everyone looked at me as if I had
> grown a third eye...
First off, I did not piss off The Master Summoner, I am The Master
Summoner, unless you're referring to my device, and it's not sentient
enough to be pissed off. I pissed off The Master (borrowed from the
BBC show Doctor Who).
Second off, even I'm looking at you as if you'd grown a third eye at
that reference.
> Me: “OK, so you never saw the movie... I figure she was getting back
> at me anyway!!”
>
> The group shrugged, not getting that either.
>
> Me: “Basically, for his entertainment, The Master Summoner – in the
> hopes of creating a 'Who Can Top This Havoc?” competition, has sent
> Dante from Full Metal Alchemist, Rezo from Slayers, and freaking Lord
> Voldemort...”
>
> Sora: “Shhh... He's not to be...”
>
> Me: “It's too late for that, Sora!!”
You had me grinning from ear to ear giggling here.
> Rezo: “I have many to still attend to – I must go.”
>
> Me: “Keep the peace, and we shall have no continued quarrel with
> you.”
>
> Rezo: “Done.”
>
> Rezo bowed his head to us, and asked the crowd to peaceably let him
> return to where he was healing.
Nice, easy resolution, and the KaliedoStagers get to show off a routine.
> Ken: “Dante, the body-switching alchemist, is creating, seemingly out
> of thin air, a massive contraption which has trapped 18,000 Lakers
> fans inside the Staples Center.”
>
> Sora: “What could she be up to?”
>
> I stopped.
>
> I got a very dark look on my face, as I realized, from our research...
>
> Me: “She's going to kill every last one of them.”
AND THEIR LITTLE DOGS, TOO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry, got carried away there...
> Everyone within about 30 yards of us just stopped.
Hammertime!
Sorry, another bad joke.
> Only one life was lost, and she had made that decision when she took
> the actions she had.
>
> As for me, there wasn't a police officer in Los Angeles who would not
> see this as a justifiable act, given the extreme circumstances.
Yeah, the whole "Kill Hitler in 1945 before the fire" scenario...
that's why I have no problem with this solution.
> Part Three: He Who Must Not Only Not Be Named, But Not Be Allowed To
> Succeed, At Any Cost
Awesome part name.
> I looked up to see... Rosetta???
>
> Rosetta: “Good to see you back with us. Voldemort is gone. London
> is safe.”
>
> I sat up as May came over.
>
> Me: “What the Hell?? And I didn't summon you guys just yet....”
Challenge is over, certain restrictions now nullified.
> May: “Sora and Ken, the lovebirds, did – silly...”
>
> I sighed.
>
> Me: “So what day is it?”
>
> Mia: “It's Christmas Day! And you woke up just in time!!”
>
> Anna: “Yeah. We got tired of entertaining your roommate...”
>
> I shook my head.
>
> Me: “How the Hell did I survive the Killing Curse?”
>
> Sora: “Either the kamis or the fact that he couldn't muster the
> willpower to successfully complete it. But, that doesn't matter. The
> challenge said to prevent the chaos by 'whatever means necessary'...”
What actually happened, Voldy was so obsessed on you at the moment, he
didn't see the KaliedoStagers performing the Ultimate Maneuver with you
in it's effective range.
> (END OF STORY --- NOTES FOLLOW)
>
> Whew. Bill, that was a handful, and I'm still not certain this isn't
> more than a wing and a prayer, but...
You passed. I was thoroughly entertained, and you addressed all points
of the challenge given. Despite the fudging of the Voldy conclusion, I
know what your team is capable of, and could fill in the blank.
> Thanks again, and can't wait to see what you come up with in seven
> days.
In just seven days, I could make you a man!
Sorry, couldn't help that one. Yeah, the challenges. I need to get
them properly worded, and go over them several times. I always seem to
miss something.
--
Please note, I have blocked most gmail addresses. I can still be
reached by e-mail, and if you are a legitimate poster, I can make an
exception in my killfile rules to allow me to see your posts. I do not
like the spam when it doesn't come from those tins.
Starcade
> On 2009-12-25 00:58:55 -0600, Starcade <darkstar7...@gmail.com> said:
>
> > Omake Challenge: Three Big Nasties in a Race for the Philosopher's
> > Stone
>
> > Team “Love Conquers All”: Sora (Robbins-)Naegino, Ken Robbins, and
> > Layla Hamilton from the “Kaleido Star” series, and me, Michael
> > Falkner.
>
> Okay, time to dig in to a serious attempt, with commentary on certain points.
No problem. I always seem to force you to "dig in"... :)
> > So I thought I was seeing things this morning when a flash of light
> > abruptly woke me up, and then I really thought I was dreaming when I
> > saw one of the my challenge teams from last year in front of me...
>
> > Layla: “I think we scared him!”
>
> Unexpected appearances seem to do that. Rob Kelk & I have had similar
> experinces in challenge related fics.
I know. Even though I would be very glad to see them, still a very
interesting morning.
> > “So I decided to have a few words with our helpers to see if they
> > could finish the job.”
>
> > “They said 'No.'”
>
> Temporal physics and the conservation of the storyline. If someone was
> plucked out of a story and cured of paralysis or anything when they
> shouldn't be, the story would be corrupted. Breaks the hearts of some
> of the "Healing Tent" crew, but they understand after years of working
> on the challenges.
Exactly. The rules of the Challenges do not necessarily require (as I
use the Kaleido Stagers in my Challenge "storyline") that I pick my
characters and "add to the storyline" at the end -- hence,
conservation of the storyline IS required.
> > Layla: “Needless to say, I wasn't happy. So they referred me to 'The
> > Master Summoner', and we had ourselves a little talk – not only about
> > my shoulder, but the challenges. And I have never meant such an
> > arrogant f...”
>
> Arrogant? I'd say adamant on certain points... of course, if she
> hadnt' used several different insults in trying to persuade me, she
> wouldn't have gotten the response she did.
Oh, Layla was not pleased. :) Layla was not pleased at being the
main course of the feast, instead of her usual position as one of the
honored guests, as she thought she would be.
> > Me: “I think she's learning from me...”
>
> > Layla: “You know it, baby.”
>
> Oh great...
Layla has to have an ego, even at the beginning of "Kaleido Star", as
a function of her position. She's picked up a couple tricks from me
in 3 years or so.
> > Layla: “We tried to bring you over, but, for some odd reason, we
> > couldn't...”
>
> > Me: “I think you pissed off the Master Summoner.”
>
> No, it's just that after last year's fiasco with their summoner, it was
> remotely disabled, and is no longer capable of summoning anything. If
> they had technology similar to the time windows Rob & I have used (his
> a regular thing, but not allowable in challenges to bring Love Hina
> characters in through a back door, and mine a one-time thing) that can
> cross dimensions, they could've brought you over.
So noted.
> > “And now, even before New Year's, Bill needs us to bail him out,
> > because The Master Summoner got pissed and decided to make our entire
> > planet like the 'Thrilla in Manila' that Deborah Gibson made San
> > Francisco into for collateral damage in 'Mega Shark vs. Giant
> > Octopus'...”
>
> > We had pulled over by this point, so everyone looked at me as if I had
> > grown a third eye...
>
> First off, I did not piss off The Master Summoner, I am The Master
> Summoner, unless you're referring to my device, and it's not sentient
> enough to be pissed off. I pissed off The Master (borrowed from the
> BBC show Doctor Who).
OK, so I didn't quite understand what I was told (in the story, by
Layla), but still...
> Second off, even I'm looking at you as if you'd grown a third eye at
> that reference.
Question: Because you don't know, or because of other (obvious)
factors?
Let's just say the look of Deborah Gibson with an evil gleam in her
eye as an oceanographer in a sci-fi based movie, proposing something
like that, is just one of those "moments" that you almost have to roll
your eyes at.
> > Me: “Basically, for his entertainment, The Master Summoner – in the
> > hopes of creating a 'Who Can Top This Havoc?” competition, has sent
> > Dante from Full Metal Alchemist, Rezo from Slayers, and freaking Lord
> > Voldemort...”
>
> > Sora: “Shhh... He's not to be...”
>
> > Me: “It's too late for that, Sora!!”
>
> You had me grinning from ear to ear giggling here.
Well, it is too late for that! :)
> > Rezo: “I have many to still attend to – I must go.”
>
> > Me: “Keep the peace, and we shall have no continued quarrel with
> > you.”
>
> > Rezo: “Done.”
>
> > Rezo bowed his head to us, and asked the crowd to peaceably let him
> > return to where he was healing.
>
> Nice, easy resolution, and the KaliedoStagers get to show off a routine.
That was the easy one! Since Rezo does appear to have a heart, he,
under the Kaleido Stage canon, would have an "Angel Heart" to be
opened. That was easy.
The other two, on the other hand...
> > Ken: “Dante, the body-switching alchemist, is creating, seemingly out
> > of thin air, a massive contraption which has trapped 18,000 Lakers
> > fans inside the Staples Center.”
>
> > Sora: “What could she be up to?”
>
> > I stopped.
>
> > I got a very dark look on my face, as I realized, from our research...
>
> > Me: “She's going to kill every last one of them.”
>
> AND THEIR LITTLE DOGS, TOO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Well, wouldn't that be correct? :) (And their little dogs too...)
> > Everyone within about 30 yards of us just stopped.
>
> Hammertime!
>
> Sorry, another bad joke.
As a bit of a "child of the eighties", I have to giggle at that one.
> > Only one life was lost, and she had made that decision when she took
> > the actions she had.
>
> > As for me, there wasn't a police officer in Los Angeles who would not
> > see this as a justifiable act, given the extreme circumstances.
>
> Yeah, the whole "Kill Hitler in 1945 before the fire" scenario...
> that's why I have no problem with this solution.
Right. Or even those who tried to do so beforehand.
> > Part Three: He Who Must Not Only Not Be Named, But Not Be Allowed To
> > Succeed, At Any Cost
>
> Awesome part name.
I try to come up with interesting titles when I do my fanfics.
> > I looked up to see... Rosetta???
>
> > Rosetta: “Good to see you back with us. Voldemort is gone. London
> > is safe.”
>
> > I sat up as May came over.
>
> > Me: “What the Hell?? And I didn't summon you guys just yet....”
>
> Challenge is over, certain restrictions now nullified.
My point exactly. The Challenge is finished at that point. I even
cover the possibility that the Killing Curse nails me and the kamis
fix me up. That could go either way, for the purposes of the
Challenge.
> > Me: “How the Hell did I survive the Killing Curse?”
>
> > Sora: “Either the kamis or the fact that he couldn't muster the
> > willpower to successfully complete it. But, that doesn't matter. The
> > challenge said to prevent the chaos by 'whatever means necessary'...”
>
> What actually happened, Voldy was so obsessed on you at the moment, he
> didn't see the KaliedoStagers performing the Ultimate Maneuver with you
> in it's effective range.
Well, then I didn't see it either. I was basically locked with
Voldemort.
Thank you for telling me, because then I can use that in a continuum
tomorrow when the Challenges are posted.
> > (END OF STORY --- NOTES FOLLOW)
>
> > Whew. Bill, that was a handful, and I'm still not certain this isn't
> > more than a wing and a prayer, but...
>
> You passed. I was thoroughly entertained, and you addressed all points
> of the challenge given. Despite the fudging of the Voldy conclusion, I
> know what your team is capable of, and could fill in the blank.
A bit fudged, because I wasn't sure if they'd be brave enough, but
they figured if I could be fixed up after being wiped out, so could
they. The answer fills in the blank.
> > Thanks again, and can't wait to see what you come up with in seven
> > days.
>
> In just seven days, I could make you a man!
>
> Sorry, couldn't help that one. Yeah, the challenges. I need to get
> them properly worded, and go over them several times. I always seem to
> miss something.
If you do, you know I'll ask about it. :)
Thanks again.
Mike