A week after the defeat of Eight, the group had decided to take more time to recover and heal. They weren't in very good shape after being tossed around by the sinking shadows.
As of right now, Chiro had become a member of the Organization, deciding to aid them in their battles.
He had to learn to readjust to humanity after being in a slumber for hundreds of years.
In the base of the Organization, Kunomiya sat, looking outside.
"Today's so lame. I wanna go somewhere fun.." He sighed as he stood up.
Daa'va stared. "Why don't we then..? We don't exactly have any threats that exist as of right now."
Chiro was standing on the roof. "I want to explore this world."
Kunomiya sighed. "So we've decided a roadtrip..? But what if something attacks while we're like..not here..?"
Gregor appeared next to Kunomiya. "I'm right here." Kunomiya suddenly jumped, nearly blasting him but stopping once he realized.
"Dude. You have to stop scaring me like that."
"It's not my fault I'm just too sly.." Gregor looked as he stood up.
"As I said, I can take care of the Organization's tasks."
"Fine. I'll put you in charge of the computer. I do have somewhere I want to go anyways." Kunomiya said as Daa'va and Chiro followed.
Gregor looked back, then staring at the computer, looking at the cat videos as he sat down, getting comfortable.
WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
After they had all healed, Aiko was sent on a mission to retrieve the ancient sword known as Yukihime in the Frozen World, where cold spirits stayed. Luckily, she wasn't alone as the rest of the organization was with her.
They were all equipped with tight clothes that radiated heat around their bodies, keeping them all warm.
"How will we even know when we see the sword..?" Kaito looked.
"Miya told me that it's a glowing beacon in the sky..!" Aiko looked up at the cold white sky, not seeing any beacon.
Kenji stared. "Miya…Kunomiya..?" He started connecting the dots, scratching his head in confusion.
Crossbolt looked. "Don't you guys see some huge golem thingy coming from the top of that mountain over there??"
Everybody suddenly looked, seeing what seemed to be a golem in knight armour, it's blue eyes glistening, wearing a crown.
"Doesn't that crown look..like..really weird..?" Kenji stared at it glowing.
"You know, it really does..!" Aiko said as she started manipulating the ice around her, jumping and starting to ice skate, springing into the sky, Kenji leaping up with her.
Kenji quickly equipped Kaira, pointing her at the golem, firing a laser directly at it's arm, running up it.
Aiko looked. "Wait..wouldn't my ice be..ineffective..?" She said as she lost focus, the crown being blasted into the sky.
Crossbolt quickly used his grappling hook, holding the crown. "It's glowing..really weirdly.." He said as a beacon started revealing itself, a portal opening.
"Greetings, mortals! Bow to your GOD, CELESTIA!" The woman said as the crown suddenly started glistening, it's power starting to pour out, creating a laser.
Aiko quickly landed, staring at her. "Glistening rainbow..this is really a God..?"
But suddenly, a shadow started appearing infront of all of them, rainbow blasts suddenly being blocked, a figure appearing.
The Shadow Empress had arrived, staring at Celestia. "It's now you reveal yourself." She spoke as she then held Crossbolt's shoulder, staring at her, whispering.
"Do not give the crown to her.." She said as she suddenly grabbed Celestia, plunging her into darkness.
The golem started launching large snowballs at all of them, the ice suddenly falling to the ground, Aiko's eyes starting to glow.
"Don't think I forgot about you." Aiko stared at the creature, suddenly remembering she can't do any damage to it.
"Would be useful if we had a fire user…" Aiko sighed until Crossbolt ran past, still holding the crown, wearing it as he suddenly bolted into the sky without any support items, creating a large fireball, slamming it onto the frozen giant, melting them beyond recognition, causing an avalanche as he slowly fell from the sky.
Kenji's eyes widened. "He didn't even use the boots..?"
Kaito stared. "Don't you think it was that crown..?"
Kazumi looked. "Why wouldn't it be. He has no abilities." He said as he sprung towards Crossbolt, grabbing him as he used his Dark Avatar to fly back to everybody.
"We need to get away. That avalanche will SWALLOW US WHOLE!!" Kazumi looked up at it, using his arms to grab everybody, soaring into the sky.
Shiori stared, using her wings, squinting. "I see something blue.." She said as she used her halo to start clearing through the avalanche, a large blue aura shocking all of them, Kazumi nearly passing out from the shock, having to land safely on the ground quickly.
Aiko's eyes opened, turning a cold blue. "The light..it calls for me..!" She said as she started running infront of the ice, looking at the sword.
Kenji looked. "Surely she can be trusted enough to not get killed while running to a sword.."
Kaito stared at Kenji. "And you trust her walking over to a sword as trustable..?" He said as they both started running towards Aiko who grabbed the blade.
"WAIT, AIKO!! DON'T-"
"Do not move." Aiko looked back as her eyes started glowing, looking down at the two of them.
Kenji and Kaito suddenly stopped in their tracks, staring up at Aiko.
"I like this body…it suits me perfectly..as a skin suit." She said as she put the sword to her chest, about to stab herself.
Kaito looked in fear, knowing the words were so chilling he couldn't do anything. But they saw no blood.
Aiko's body started flowing with the glacial energy, the sword starting to fade, becoming a part of her.
Her clothes started burning away with ice, leaving a black bodysuit, ice forming onto it.
Kenji looked confused, staring at the bodysuit. "Was that under..? It's pretty chilly..Do the clothes come back..?"
Aiko looked down. "They do." She said as an ice star appeared on her head.
"Tell me this girl's name.."
"Her name's Aiko.." Kaito looked.
"Ice Star Aiko…I like that name.." Aiko laughed as she passed out, Kenji zooming and grabbing her, the clothes starting to reform on her.
"Good, she wasn't lying." Kaito sighed.
Kazumi weakly walked. "Is our mission complete then..?"
Crossbolt looked. "Yeah."
Kenji sighed. "Let's go." He said as he put Aiko on his shoulder, a portal opening.
"Still, I wonder who those people were." Crossbolt wondered as they all walked through.
IN THE VOID.
Celestia and the Shadow Empress were both clashing against each other, landing on the ground, both staring at each other.
"You think I'll let you anywhere near any source of power." Oblivia looked.
"You're clearly the monster here..!" Celestia said as she started looking around at the void.
"I don't care if I am a monster! I know what you've done, and YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT!!" The Empress shouted.
Celestia looked, laughing as she started filling the void with her own domain.
"You, Oblivia..a form of evil..why would anybody believe someone as useless as you."
Oblivia looked up at her, trying to grab her but missing.
"I'll save them.."
"Even if it means to hurt.." She said as she teleported away.
IN THE ORGANIZATION BASE.
The group had walked in, seeing Kunomiya's computer playing cat videos.
"Seems he went somewhere.." Kenji said as he sat Aiko down on the chair.
"Yeah. Daa'va and Chiro went with him. They're on some kind of road trip." Gregor said, appearing behind Kenji, making him jump.
Crossbolt looked. "I wonder where exactly they went.." He said as he sat down.
Kaito sighed. "I didn't realize it was that cold in the Frozen World.." He looked, fatigued.
Shiori felt her head ache. "Don't you think that Celestia randomly showing up for that crown is a bit weird..?" She pointed at Kazumi holding it now.
Kazumi started staring at the crown as it didn't glow as it once used to, putting it down and sealing it.
"That's enough work for today…I'm tired as hell…."
Kenji spoke. "But that Shadow Empress..is she an ally..or is she evil..?"
Shiori started thinking. "Don't you think she might be leading us on or something..? Telling us not to help Celestia.."
Kazumi looked. "I think she has good intentions.." He said as he went to his room.
The rest all looked around, reaching a standstill and just deciding to go to sleep. They had fought a heavy battle and were all tired.
WITH CLOUD.
Cloud was floating through countless universes, looking around as he slowly landed on a random planet.
"They seriously went on a road trip without me." Cloud sighed as he heard a wave attack flying towards him.
"Astral Seas-" Cloud looked as he jumped into the sky, looking down at who seemed to be Sei.
Sei looked up at him. "I don't know how you're unsealed."
Cloud laughed. "Because the world needed my help."
"When the world needed a hero..they called a villain..?" Sei looked in confusion.
Cloud landed, looking at him. "I'm no villain. If anything, I'm the victim." He said as his cloak flowed, getting ready to fight.
Sei sighed, preparing to fight with the Azure Style.
Cloud was the first to attack, zooming at him, forcing him to block. Sei stared, finding a weak spot within a few seconds, hitting Cloud in the arm, sending him back a bit.
"You always knew how to find anybody's weak spots. That was your strength." Cloud spoke.
"I can tell you're not at your full power. Those blades still hidden in that stupid box that only YOU can't open..?"
Cloud started getting annoyed, dashing at him, his eyes leaving behind a light as he hit Sei 8 consecutive times, charging his fist then hitting him a 9th.
"Not at my full power but I can still manage to beat your ass." He said as he stretched his shoulder, looking at Sei.
Sei's hand started steaming as he dashed to him, putting his hand on the ground as he launched a kick directly at Cloud's face, blocking it with his hand.
"You move fast." Cloud said as he started zooming around him, teleporting above his head, performing an axe kick on it, slamming him into the ground.
Sei stared up. "You're a formidable enemy, Cloud. What do you even do now that you're unsealed."
"I help an Organization." He spoke.
"What Organization could that be..?" Sei wondered.
"Kunomiya's."
Sei's eyes widened. "Kunomiya…I haven't heard that name in a long time.."
Cloud smirked. "You know..us fighting isn't really like us. Have you been stuck here..?"
Sei sighed. "I have."
Cloud burst into laughter, trying to hide it but eventually just laughing out loud.
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN STUCK HERE?!"
"YOU'D THINK BEING IN THE LIMBO WAS BAD..BUT HERE..?!"
He said as he couldn't stop laughing.
Sei looked to the right in shame. "I don't know how long..just take me away from here like you said."
"Only if you promise not to hurt anybody." Cloud spoke.
Sei nodded. "I'm not like other people.." He said as they both suddenly teleported.
BACK AT THE BASE.
Cloud had arrived with Sei, looking around at everybody.
"You guys are looking at me like I've been gone for a century.."
Kenji looked. "Well, you've been gone for a good 5 days..?"
Cloud's eyes widened. "5 DAYS?? I forgot that time flows in different places." He sighed.
Sei appeared next to him. "Sorry..hello..My name is Sei."
Everybody looked in confusion. "You know, you look similar to Daa'va." Shiori spoke.
Sei laughed a bit. "Well, he's kinda..my cousin..?"
"WHAT?!?!" Everybody shouted out loud.
Sei smiled awkwardly. "Uhmm..is that meant to be a bad thing..?"
"No, of course not..!" Shiori started waving her hands around nervously.
Cloud looked. "Where's Aiko..? I just realized she was gone. I haven't heard her voice in a while."
"She's training with Kaito across the city." Kazumi spoke.
"Good to hear she's getting stronger." Cloud smiled.
Gregor suddenly appeared behind Cloud. "Yeah. You probably already know the rest of them went on a road trip. They won't be back until tomorrow."
Cloud suddenly got annoyed. "Man..I already knew."
Kenji looked. "Well, it's sunset..I might go get them." He said as he walked out of the room.
???
Oblivia stared at the throne, looking at her assistant.
"It would be easier if you just talked to them, ma'am." Her assistant spoke.
"Yeah, but then they'll think I'm being evil or something..!" Oblivia looked.
"I think I can help." A voice was heard in the throne room, a clock suddenly appearing, Ren walking out.
"And who are you..?" Oblivia looked back.
"I am Ren Kitahara." He said as he looked around.
"I already know what you think about Celestia…and I believe your intentions are right..but your methods are wrong."
"How should I go with it then..?" Oblivia spoke.
"When they learn about Celestia's invasion, they'll understand you if you just speak to them."
"What do you mean Celestia's invasion."
"You haven't heard..? Celestia is planning on an invasion in approximately 2 days. If you leave now, you'll be able to get there on time." Ren spoke.
Oblivia looked at her assistant who nodded at her, standing up.
"See! This is the perfect opportunity, ma'am!" The assistant spoke as Oblivia nodded.
"Thanks for telling me all this, Kitahara." She said as she suddenly started descending into the void.
Ren looked at the assistant, nodding as he disappeared.
THE NEXT DAY.
Aiko was in her training session with Kaito, preparing to use what she was given.
"I have to master this..!" Aiko looked, determined as Kaito prepared his sword to attack her.
"If you know how to use the power of the blade stuck inside of you..pull it out..and use its strength." The soul spoke to Aiko.
She stared, staying focused as she took a deep breath out, her eyes starting to glisten.
"I remember…you were called Ice Star Aiko.." Kaito looked.
"Don't you think it's a command phrase..?"
Aiko started thinking. "You know, I never knew that..You didn't think of telling me that before..?"
Kaito scratched his head. "Uhm..sorry."
Aiko held her hand out. "Ice Star." She said as her hand started freezing, the sword suddenly appearing, impaled in her chest.
"Pull it out..if you dare to be strong enough." The sword spoke.
Aiko looked, holding the sword's hilt, her aura starting to flare from a blue to a cold white.
"I want to protect people that I care about..but not just them…"
"I WANT TO PROTECT THE WORLD!" Aiko shouted as the sword suddenly released it's presence, merging itself with Aiko, the spirit of the sword suddenly transforming.
The spirit transformed into a woman, her eyes opening, wearing a cold blue robe.
"My name..is Yukihime."
"Thanks for waking me up.." She said as she started stretching her arms, a cold mist of air releasing from her mouth.
"Wow! No problem!!" Aiko looked as her eyes glistened.
"You're like- Really cool!!" She said as she started moving around at fast speeds, looking at her.
"You're not too shabby yourself..!" Yukihime laughed as she slapped Aiko on the back, accidentally sending her rolling onto the ground.
"Whoops!! Sorry!!" She teleported over to her, picking her up.
Kaito just looked in complete confusion. "How can all of this happen that fast.." He said as he fell on the ground, just sitting on the ground, scratching his head.
But suddenly, everybody felt a powerful chill in the air.
"What's that feeling..it's getting hotter.." Kaito stood up, looking around.
Everybody else in the Organization was out and about doing their own things, also looking up in the sky.
Gregor sighed as he turned on the city's security.
Multiple civillians started evacuating from the city, Gregor controlling the gates, allowing them all to exit safely within a few minutes.
"That was ea-" He looked outside of the window as a giant meteor started falling towards the ground.
"Well, that's clearly a problem." Gregor squinted at it as it started crashing down.
Aiko and Yukihime looked up, knowing they couldn't do anything.
But as they blinked, the meteor suddenly exploded, being sliced in half.
"No way..who would have the power to destroy a meteor that fast.?" Aiko looked up.
Suddenly, the silhouette looked down, smiling. "Me." Kenji said as he quickly descended, feeling powerful rainbow blasts soaring towards him, holding his blade and slashing them all.
Oblivia suddenly appeared from the shadows, looking up at the blasts.
Kenji looked. "You're that shadow lady-"
Oblivia nodded. "Sorry for my weird intrusions lately, but I'm not here to fight against you."
"I'm here to fight with you."
Kenji nodded. "Gotcha." He said as he started blocking more attacks, jumping on each of the meteorite debris, trying to reach the one launching the blasts.
Kenji locked eyes. They were a glistening rainbow..the way her hair swayed with the wind..her clothes flowing lightly. He knew it. He had his own suspicions and decided to trust them.
"CELESTIA." He said as he jumped to her, clashing with her.
"You. You're not aware of how much you annoy me." She spoke as she grabbed him by the throat.
"I could kill you here right now…wouldn't that be easy.." She laughed a little bit before feeling blood rush down her neck.
Aiko had suddenly managed to jump, slicing her neck, holding onto her tightly.
"Let go of Kenji. Now." She said, staring at Celestia with a cold stare.
"Aiko..How embarrassing that you don't know your own past." She said as she held her face, slicing her away, slamming her into a tree.
Kenji looked back, his eyes starting to spark as he suddenly punched Celestia, launching another hit on her, sending her into the sky, Oblivia quickly sending her across the city.
Kenji landed on the ground with Oblivia. "That will only distract her for a few seconds.."
Cloud suddenly appeared alongside Sei, 3 large beams of light then soaring across the sky, crashing right next to them.
Kazumi then flew over with Shiori and Crossbolt.
Celestia had landed once again, looking at all of them.
Kunomiya looked. "We have a problem. It's not her. We can deal with her later." He said as he dashed to Celestia, holding her tight.
"SEAL." Kunomiya stated as Celestia was suddenly stuck under powerful seals, the energy of the limbo being stuck inside.
Kunomiya watched, feeling the power of the seals stretch before a rift had appeared, suddenly sending them all through a portal.