Persona BLEACHED 3: Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Born Under a Blossom Tree 
March 16, 2030 
At the Academy tower's apex, Edelhardt stared into the glowing orb of light floating before him; the core of his being. Behind that was the enormous mecha, the Cervantes Alpha. 
"Preparations are complete. My last resort...I pray I need not use it." 
His eyes glowed. "Now...what do you have left to show me, Minnie?" 
--- 
"For the past decade, I have had the honor and privilege to know the woman you call 'Professor'. A woman whose compassion and attentiveness to those around her is matched only by her desire to see their unique talents honed and utilized to the fullest. I have the distinction of calling such woman my beloved." Rose dictated. 
She, along with Kat and Carrie, were standing in an empty space. The girls were holding hands. 
"I consider Rin to be a champion of overcoming trauma and thriving in spite of it. If one were to have just met her, and see her unrelenting optimism, you would never guess that she's experienced as much hardship as she has. But one need only look at her arms to understand that her life has been far from easy. To truly understand who she is, and the strength it's taken for her to be here, at this moment in time, we need to go to the beginning. Are you ready?" 
Kat nodded. "Yeah. I want to know for myself. And maybe teach your old man a thing or two about people." 
"Agreed. If it can help us better understand her, and perhaps sway your father in the process, it would be extremely worthwhile." Carrie affirmed. 
"Very well. In that case..." Rose looked to her side. Rin had suddenly appeared. "Where would you like to begin, Professor Kubo?" 
"...You girls really want to know? Okay. If we're taking a tour through my entire history, then I think we should start on a less dire note. April 5, 2004. The day I came into the world." Rin answered. 
The scenery shifted. Mt. Shirayuki, during the spring. The trees surrounding the lake were covered with cherry blossoms, the pink petals floating about in the wind. 
"Such a breathtaking sight...it's far too fitting that you were born amongst the trees and flowers, Professor." Carrie said. 
"Hey, wait a minute...isn't this supposed to be a memory? How can you remember this when you weren't even born yet?" Kat questioned. 
"Easy. My mom's told me about this day dozens of times over the years. She remembers it vividly, so I can put together how it probably played out." Rin replied. "So let me set the scene for you. Aunt Rei has Tan and Tohru at the cabin. Over at this tree, we have..." 
Rin pointed to a tree, where a dark-haired man wearing glasses was packing up what appeared to be picnic supplies. Seated against the tree was a heavily pregnant Hana. "Okay...about ready to head back. I think you've got a date with the couch, little lady." Kaito said. 
"Oh, but this isn't uncomfortable at all. Let's enjoy this mountain air a little while longer. I'm sure Reiko won't mind~." Hana teased. 
"Tohru was pulling on her hair when we left. I'd like to make sure our toddler hasn't taken out my sister before he's even one." 
"A terror even in his infancy. Shocking." Rose muttered sarcastically. 
"If you're so sure, Kaito. A lift, if you please?" Hana requested. 
"Of course, my lady." Kaito took her by the hand. Before she could get up, she stopped him. 
"Ah...oh." 
"What's wrong?" 
"I think...our bundle of joy is ready for her grand entrance." 
"Wait, what?! But she's not due for two weeks!" 
"She clearly didn't get the message..." 
"Oh, God." 
"Oy, you coming back anytime soon? This kid's gonna be my death!" a black-haired woman called out from the cabin. 
"Rei! Hana's gone into labor! Call an ambulance!" Kaito yelled back. 
"Oh, fu--wait right there, I'm on it!" 
"There's no time, Kaito...she's not in any mood to wait...you're going to have to help me..." Hana uttered. 
"Oh, shit. Uhhhh, okay, how do I--" Kaito looked around in a panic. 
"Ah--!" 
"Ohhhhh man...okay, guess I'll just have to wing it..." 
"Not exactly what a woman in labor wants to hear, Kaito..." 
"Well, this is a sight. I can see what you picked up from your dad, Prof." Kat commented. 
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rin shook her head. "Alright, I'm going to spare you the firsthand look at the miracle of life, and skip to the aftermath." She snapped her fingers. 
The scene shifted to Hana holding a baby wrapped in what looked to be a picnic blanket. "Oh, my goodness. Maybe your father should have taken up a career as a doctor, don't you think~?" 
"I'm never doing that again. Consider the factory closed." Kaito muttered. 
"You won't be getting any complaints from me. She's absolutely perfect. I can already see it. She's got the Hanazaki eyes, for sure." 
"Well let's just hope she doesn't have the Hanazaki propensity to tease." 
"What's that, little one? You want your daddy to take you out to the lake? Wouldn't that be precious~?" 
"Don't start corrupting her now. Oh, hey. The medics finally got here. I'll go chat with them. Be right back, girls." 
Husband kissed wife, and father kissed daughter. Kaito went over to the paramedics. 
"Oh, dear girl. You're going to be the one to test my limits, aren't you?" 
A single pink petal fell from the tree, landing on the baby's head. Hana giggled. "You really are a Hanazaki girl. I'm going to hang onto this from now on. One day, you'll bloom into a beautiful young lady, as vibrant as a tree in the spring. Mommy loves you so much, Ringo. My little apple blossom~." 
Rin looked on with a pleasant smile. "It all looks so normal. Loving parents welcoming new life among a sea of flower petals. It all promises a bright, promising future. But..." She paused. "The highway called life has a few potholes in it. Nobody on this mountain could have ever predicted what was coming." 
She pointed to the cabin. "No one could have ever foreseen what dwelled inside of that toddler. Him badgering my aunt was funny. Normal behavior for a one-year old. But things wouldn't stay so light-hearted for long. Before the tree of discord could sprout, the seeds needed to be planted." 
The scenery changed to a house close to the city. Inside, fourteen-year old Tan sat on the couch, earphones blocking out noise from the home. 
"My brother and his music." Rin commented. 
"I didn't realize this was gonna include a DJ Tan Man origin story." Kat quipped. 
A young boy entered the room, with dark hair and glasses. This was Tohru, seven years old. 
"Oh, heya, Toh. Finally decided to crawl out of your cave, eh?" Tan joked. 
"I don't live in a cave. I'm not a monkey like you." Tohru responded. 
"Ouch! It was just a joke, squirt. No need to cut me so deep. So you hungry or what?" 
"Why else would I be here, looking at your stupid face?" 
"Someone's in a real mood. I'll heat up something. Where's Rinnie at?" 
"I don't know." 
"Seriously? She's not in her room?" 
"I don't know." 
"That sounds like a big, fat lie. Let me go take a look." 
Tan got up and went upstairs, checking Rin's room. There were plenty of stuffed toys in the crimson-hued room, but no sign of its occupant. He checked under the bed. Nothing. "Man. If she's playing hide-and-seek, she's doing a heck of a--" 
His thoughts were interrupted by a rattling sound. He looked up and noticed what he'd missed by focusing on the bed: a small chair propped up against the closet door. Someone was banging on the door, and yelling for help. Tan rushed to move the chair, and swung open the door. 
Inside the closet, Rin was in the fetal position, crying. "Oh God, are you okay, Rinnie? What happened?" Tan tried consoling her. 
It was a redundant question. He already knew in his mind what had happened. And if it wasn't obvious enough, he only needed to look at who was standing in the doorway. Tohru, having watched the entire affair, was smirking. 
"You twisted little freak! Are you crazy?!" 
"It was just a joke." 
"Does she look like she's laughing? She could've been in there for hours! Oh, wait until Ma and Pop hear about this. You are so dead." 
Tohru scoffed, and walked away, leaving Tan to continue consoling a tearful Rin. "I'm sorry, sis. I wish he wasn't such a tool. He wishes he could be like you. One day he'll wish he wasn't a jerk." 
The group watched from the hall. "He told me he had proof that there were monsters in the closet. Soon as he got me in, he slipped out and jammed the door shut. Mom and Dad grounded him for a month after that. But every punishment just made him that much more resentful." Rin dictated. 
"Oh my God. I've never wanted to punt a child into a trash bin as much as I do now. What a little punk!" Kat exclaimed. 
"I find it so difficult to believe that he could be your brother. You and him couldn't be anymore different." Carrie commented. 
"We know his vindictiveness well. The fact that it started at such a young age is fairly unsurprising." Rose added. 
"I just don't get it. Maybe it's cuz me and Lin are so cool, but I can't understand why your brother would be so mean to you." Kat said. 
"I've asked myself that same question for most of my life. It always comes back to envy. I was born about a year after he was. He always had it in his mind that Mom and Dad were so dissatisfied with him that they tried again. The reality is that I was an unplanned baby. I got slightly better grades, I made friends much easier. I was everything he wasn't, and he couldn't stand it. And the sad truth of it all? I still looked up to him. I did good in school because I wanted to be like my big brother. I never had a single shred of hate towards him." Rin explained. 
She looked down. "Do you have any idea how awful it feels, knowing that someone you loved and idolized hated you with every fiber of their being? Things like locking me in a closet and throwing sand at my face were commonplace. The power he gained, the lengths he went to, sacrificing his own body...all of it was an attempt at proving he was better than me. Can you imagine how that makes me feel?" 
Rose took her hand. "Most people never could." 
"I love my family. That includes Tohru. It always has. Even after everything he did. That's never changed. All I can do now is mourn what could've been if his heart wasn't so twisted. My brother was..." Rin paused again. "My brother was evil. He was evil, and he hated me. He went to his grave hating me. I live with that, every second of every day. Not even the passage of time can help it make sense. That's why I tackle life with love and a smile. Because I refuse to let his resentment control how I live. Acceptance and understanding will always win out over hate. That's how I move forward." 
"But...it doesn't end with Tohru, does it?" Rin sighed. "No. I could only wish it were that simple. We need to go forward a year. When the tragedy that plagued our family truly began." 
The group reappeared in front of the Kubo family shop. 
"September 22, 2011. A normal day by any measure. Mom and Dad working the shop as per usual. It's a school day, so customers for the time being are limited to older folks who've made coming to the store part of their daily routine. The one difference today is that I'm with my parents. I'd come down with a cold, so I stayed behind the counter and away from other people. I'm wearing a mask in there. Just a normal Thursday. But then..." 
A pair of suspicious-looking men approached the shop. The older of the two began to lecture his younger, disheveled companion. 
"That sad-looking boy you see there is named Seinosuke Yoshihito. He's just fourteen years old. But he's about to commit the act that shatters my family to pieces." Rin dictated. 
The boy entered the shop. "And it begins. He's going to pull out a pistol and demand money from the register. Dad's going to joke with him that he probably has more money than we do. And in his impatience, the boy is going to..." 
A shot echoes out from the shop. Carrie became visibly shaken, her gaze becoming hollow. "Hey, Care...it's okay. It's not real." Kat snapped her out of it. 
"Ah, forgive me..." Carrie replied. 
Rin rubbed her arm. "Don't feel guilty. That's...not an easy sound for me to hear, either." 
Rose locked arms with her beloved. "Don't leave anything bottled up inside. We're here for you. Remember that." 
"....." Rin pondered her response. "I'm not going to look. That moment is seared into my mind forever. That one instant changed everything. Dad was the one keeping us all down to Earth. Mom had to put in double the effort to keep us all afloat. Tan got desperate trying to help, and it landed him in jail. Tohru...he got worse. So much worse. Dad was the one keeping him in line. He had zero respect for Mom, or anyone else." 
"And as for me...I was broken. I watched it all happen. And it gets more difficult with every milestone. He wasn't there to see me graduate college, to watch me get married, or become a mom...none of it. And the bogeyman I was so afraid of for years? He sends me a letter eight years later from prison, confessing to everything. I go to confront him, and he's the most timid, remorseful thing. He committed robbery because his father pushed him to do it, and in order to support his sick brother. I expected evil, and instead I found someone to be pitied. I'd never even considered that the person responsible could be anything but the most selfish and wicked creature imaginable." 
"So what did you do when you heard all this?" Kat asked. 
"I...forgave him." 
"You did? You weren't angry at all?" 
"Oh, I was. At first. His self-pity and his desire to die infuriated me. I'd already seen enough needless death up to that point. The despair was crushing me. So I told him to live. Atone by refusing to be consumed by despair. I told myself this as much as I told him. You can't let the negative emotions win out, because it just eats away at you. I've seen that cycle of anger and bitterness consume too many people over the years. Max wasn't the first, and he'll be far from the last. That was the moment that I truly committed to living a life of acceptance and love. My trauma wouldn't be what defined me." 
"A beautiful way to live, indeed. It's something I think we can all learn from. Right, Kitten?" Carrie asked. 
"Right. That's something I wish I knew a long time ago. Maybe I wouldn't have had such a sucky time of it, then." Kat replied. 
"It's a lesson I wished I'd learned before then. Well, Rose?" Rin posed. 
"So, you intend to take them to...that day." Rose surmised. 
"If any one moment could illustrate just how low I'd fallen, that would be the one. The day I let despair win out..." Rin rolled up her sleeves. "The day I got this permanent reminder to never lose hope." 
"November 15, 2018. The day I decided to end my life."
The surroundings changed once more. The four women were now standing at the entrance to a dense forest. "Aokigahara National Park. A place that emanates despair from every branch and leaf." Rose commented. 
"This forest is where Natalia was lured by that...murderous creature. Not a pleasant memory to be found." Carrie said. 
"I mean, I thought you snapping the thing's neck was pretty badass, not gonna lie." Kat replied. "Still, with a place like this, how do we know where to go?" 
Rin was focused on something. "Hey, Prof?" 
"It's an easy answer." Rin responded. "We follow her." 
She pointed to a girl standing closer to the entrance. Her fourteen-year old self, wearing a black jacket and having her hair cut shorter and dyed a dark brown, looked up at the sea of trees. Wordlessly, she proceeded inside. 
Rin hesitated. "I know what she's thinking. And I want desperately to yell at her to stop. Kat?" 
"Yeah?" her student responded. 
"You're about to see the worst mistake of my entire life play out in real time. When you see it...I'm going to ask you something. I'm curious about what your response will be. As for you..." Rin looked to Rose, who grasped her hand tightly. 
"I won't shy away. I took a vow to share everything with you, the joy and the pain. I would rake my feet over coals if it meant helping you to heal." Rose affirmed. 
"Nothing involving you being hurt would ever help me feel better. I'd readily take the pain myself." Rin put her head on Rose's chest. "I wouldn't be here without you. I'm sorry that...you had to wait so long to hear what you wanted to. Oh, look at me...you probably need more support right now than I do, and I can't--" 
Rose patted her on the back. "Be as vulnerable as you need to. I said it already. Your pain is mine. I need your strength to get through to Father. I thank you for always thinking of me, my love..." 
Kat tried to cover up the fact that she was tearing up. Carrie approached the two women. "I think you two are in need of a vacation. Milan is lovely this time of year. Amsterdam, too. Somewhere for you two to enjoy each other in a beautiful environment. I have no shortage of recommendations, if it's something you'd be interested in." 
"I think a trip abroad sounds incredibly appealing right now. I don't think we've actually taken a trip by ourselves since we've been married. What do you think, Rin?" Rose asked. 
Rin composed herself. "First thing's first, we have to finish things here. That being said...a European excursion would be great. We'll have to look into it when we get home. Because we will be going home. I just have to wish it into reality..." She began walking towards the forest. 
"It's really starting to get to her. Even she can't hide it." Kat said. 
"Doctor, you have some control over what we see, right? If at all possible...could you show her more pleasant memories when this is finished? Just to remind her that it hasn't been entirely traumatic." Carrie requested. 
"I will absolutely try. The ultimate purpose of this isn't to drudge up painful memories. It's to show that no matter how much trauma one accrues, it's always possible to pull oneself out of the darkness, and live a satisfying life. And I already know what memories I'll be showing her. My purpose, since the day I first laid eyes on her, has been to ensure she has a peaceful, happy life. I've brought this darkness out for her to face, and it's my duty to return her to the light." Rose dictated. 
She walked after Rin. Kat didn't move at first, and looked pensive. "Something else on your mind?" Carrie asked. 
"I don't think Prof knows this, but...I've seen this happen before." 
"You've...seen it before?" 
"Last year, when the man on the moon was sending me visions of everyone getting angry at me. I got sent to a forest, and I saw a girl jumping from a tree. It was Prof. I never really knew for sure if Prof was serious about how it happened. I mean, she's got as strong of a head on her shoulders as anyone. I can't picture her being so devoid of hope that she'd..." 
Rose beckoned them along. "Come, now. We can't get too far behind. These woods are a natural maze." 
Kat swallowed. Carrie took her hand. The two followed into the woods. 
The walk amongst the trees was filled with a silent tension. 
"Hey, Doc?" Kat whispered. "Does it seem like Prof...almost knows exactly where she's headed?" 
"As though she's walked this path myriad tines in her mind? I've come to much the same conclusion." Rose replied. 
"It isn't out of the ordinary to relive your lowest moment over and over again..." Carrie mumbled. 
Rin came to a stop. "It's here." 
Up ahead, her younger self stood looking up at a tree. After a moment's hesitation, she grabbed hold of the trunk, and started hoisting herself up. 
"Is she seriously...?" Kat pondered. 
Before the doomed teenager could move any further upward, someone stopped her. 
Rin had grabbed hold of her back. 
"Prof...? What are you..." Kat questioned. 
"...what do you think you're doing?" the young Rin asked. 
"....." Her older self looked away. 
"You can't stop what's about to happen. You already know that. I'm going to pull myself up to one of those branches, and I'm gonna have second thoughts. I'll spot the hanging corpse right about...there." She pointed. "And then I'll get so spooked that I lose my footing, shred up my arms trying to grab hold of the trunk, and hit the ground with a thud. If not for a park ranger getting an alert about a teenager walking around in the woods, we'd be another corpse among hundreds that never make it out of here. Holding onto me is pointless. Those lovely arms are the proof." 
"....." 
"Look at you. You can't look at your arms without feeling shame. What do you suppose I do with all this despair floating around in my mind? Dad...Tohru...it's too much for one person to take. Oh, but we're not done yet, are we? No, because the universe doesn't hate us enough, we get to watch someone else we love die in front of us. And it's all. Your. Fault." 
The younger Rin hit her older self in the face with the palm of her hand, and the scenery transitioned. 
Rin was on her knees, with her companions behind her. In front of her was a single gravestone. 
"That's right. The girl whose glasses you waltz around in as if you didn't play your part in her withering away into nothing. If you hadn't interfered...if her life had ended sooner...she wouldn't have suffered like she did. Instead, she got an extended death sentence. Her murder hornet in a box outlived her. So explain it, 'Professor'. Tell your students why they should let people suffer." 
The grave had a name engraved on it. The marker read "Sumiko Sakaki. June 23, 2004 - October 1, 2024." 
The onslaught of emotions finally became too much to bare. With tears forming in her eyes, Rin embraced the gravestone. 
"Rin...it's okay...it wasn't--" Rose tried to console her. 
"No, it's not okay! None of this is okay! Miko...I...I killed her. If I hadn't stopped her from taking her life, she wouldn't have gotten so sick. It was the same result, just with more pain. And when I started seeing her weight go down, I should've told her to get checked out, but she hated doctors because of her parents. If I'd just dragged her to the hospital when I noticed something wrong, she might've..." 
Rin turned around and sat against the grave. "I've asked myself time and time again...if any of this has been worth it. If interfering with people's lives is really for the greater good. Am I really doing this for the right reasons? Or am I just trying to make up for what happened to Dad? But it's hopeless...no one I've lost is going to come back no matter what I do. I have no business telling children how to live their lives. Not when mine has been an endless parade of tragedy..." 
"Are you quite finished with this torture yet?" Edelhardt suddenly appeared. "This has done nothing save for illustrating exactly why I need to eradicate every negative emotion from the human spectrum. Look at what years of tragedy have done to her. Weighed down by a deep well of guilt that she can never escape from. Humans will forever be held back by the struggles of the past, and never be able to create a prosperous future. Why prolong this madness, Minnie? Is your end goal to make your beloved suffer to the point of insanity?" 
"Butt out, you egomaniacal iPad! Your the one that started this 'therapy' crap in the first place!" Kat yelled. "Prof, you want to know how I feel about all this? What seeing you broken to bits would make me think about you? Well here goes." 
Kat knelt down in front of Rin, then gave her tearful professor a hug. "I learned this from the Natty school of sharing your feelings. You having all this bad stuff happen to you doesn't make me respect you less. Honestly, I think you're even cooler for getting past all of it and being where you are now. You just needed someone to be there for you when things got awful. But it's okay! You have a world of people around you that think you're amazing. You know what I mean, don't you, Doc?" 
Rose knelt down next to them. "Ms. Kit is right, Rin. It's true that you've had much to overcome in your lifetime. And it can be easy to say that you haven't been able to change anything. But I know for a fact that you've changed fortunes for many over the years. Enough with pulling from your memories." She put her hand on Rin's cheek. "Let me show you mine." 
Rose's eyes glowed, and a series of visions poured through Rin's mind. Their first ever meeting inside the Metaverse, when Rin first awakened to her Persona. The first Christmas they shared together, smiling and laughing with their friends on Mt. Shirayuki. Going on a bug-hunting excursion with Miko, which ended with a daring escape from a band of hornets. The night they confessed their feelings to each other on the front porch of their home. The day they brought Shizuka into their lives, as the poor girl had wandered next to the family shop. The day they exchanged vows near the lake that had proven so important to their family. 
The visions ended. "You've suffered for so long. And I'm more than happy to be the one to assuage your pain. As I've said from the very beginning, I'm here to ensure that you live a life filled with love. I only know what that means because you taught me. I was an empty shell when we met. You gave me everything I needed to live. I know what love is, because you've filled my heart with it. You changed my life, Ringo Kubo. And if you ever find yourself in the pit of despair, I and everyone who adores you will be there to dig you out of it." 
A tear fell down Rose's face. "I love you. You've made this a world worth living in for me. So long as a speck of hope remains, I'll never let you fall into despair. I promise." 
"Oh, Rose...I'm sorry you had to fall for such a drama magnet..." Rin replied. 
"As much as I would enjoy an existence consisting only of chatting over tea, a life of endless excitement certainly has its advantages." 
Kat, again, tried to hold back tears. Carrie massaged her shoulder. "God, they're such goals..." the former mumbled. 
Rin got back to her feet. "I'm sorry, everyone. I try to act strong, but the gravity of what I've seen...it gets to me every now and then. But I have to remember why I started down this road in the first place. I want to make a world of light and love, where everyone can live how they want. On their own power. Thank you for bearing with me while I remembered that." She sighed. "Maybe we do need a vacation..." 
Light flashed throughout the space, and soon enveloped the four women. When the light faded, they were back in the hallway of the tower. The rest of the Artisans were alongside them. 
"Hey, there you all are! Jeez, that was crazy!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"Bleeeh, no more mind-bendy stuff, please..." Ibuki griped. 
"Those certainly weren't fun memories to relive." Sakuya added. 
"So...where's the computer guy?" Natalia questioned. 
"I am here." Edelhardt's voice emanated. 
"Really don't feel like facing us like a man, eh?" Kat asked. 
"Father. Enough of this. You failed to break their spirits. You're asking the wrong people for aid." Rose stated. 
"So it would seem. Thank you for sharing your souls, everyone. It was informative, to say the least." Edelhardt said. 
"I'm feeling a 'however' coming." Kenneth responded. 
"I've learned that you all possess the willpower and drive to forge your own paths, and make your desires into reality. That is indeed admirable. But the truth remains that most humans cannot lay claim to the same. They either lack the fortitude to see their dreams to fruition, or the resources and life situation for it to be possible. For them, life becomes a chore they have to manage." 
"So you're gonna pry open our brains, then decide 'nah, I'm gonna keep being the evil mastermind'. Freaking wonderful." Ibuki groaned. 
"Even if what you're saying is true, it doesn't mean that taking away free will from people is gonna make them happy." Kibō replied. 
"You saw how we all overcame our trauma to take control of our lives. Even after all of that, you would still deny others the same possibility?" Carrie questioned. 
"I see how it is. You were never going to change your mind on this, were you? This was all to sway us to your line of reasoning. Or maybe an attempt at unsettling us before the inevitable confrontation?" Rin surmised. 
"If that's really true, then let's stop wasting time. Tell us where you're at so we can get the beatdown over and done with." Kat demanded. 
Edelhardt sighed. "It always comes back to violence with you people. Very well. If that's your true desire, then make your way to the tower's apex. Your will has guided you through darkness and strife up to this point. If you truly wish to defy humanity's wish for a life free from pain, then you will have to defeat me first. But I assure you, though I detest the use of force to get what you want, I will return your willpower in kind, if need be." 
"Wouldn't expect anything else." Ibuki commented. 
"One last thing...you'd probably like to know where Captain Thunder is at the moment. He's in a classroom, on the 13th floor. You can stop in and see him, if you so choose." 
"You'd better not be lying..." Barbara grimly stated. 
"He's unharmed. By me, at least. Your feline companion did more than enough of that on her own." 
"Damn straight." Kat responded. 
"Your next course of action is entirely on you. I shall await you at this world's apex. Farewell." 
The voice went silent. 
"Well. Guess there's only one way forward from here. 13th floor it is." Kat declared. 
"You think Maxie's gonna be happy to see us after, well, everything?" Sahir asked. 
"I'd argue that we have more pressing threats right now than him. But we certainly can't leave him to his solitude now." Kenneth replied. 
"Considering the wounds Kat-chan sustained in their battle, he might not be in any condition to fight. But he's correct. We have to retrieve him." Sakuya added. 
Ibuki grumbled. 
"Time to swallow your pride, Ibuki. There are more pressing matters at hand." Carrie stated. 
"You can punch him in the face later. We've got a world to save!" Natalia added. 
"I've personally had my fill of beating Sparky's face in for one day. I'm alright with dragging his sorry butt back home after we kick Doc's daddy down a peg. Right, Barbie?" Kat asked. 
"I...I need to see him. No matter what, I have to talk to him." Barbara replied. 
"Your wish is my command. Let's go see how good ol' Captain Thunder is holding up."
---
"Here we go. This one's gotta be it, right?" Kat questioned. The group stood before a golden door, which stood out against the black-and-blue surroundings.
"It's basically telling us 'Open me!' without saying a word." Sahir replied.
"Are we sure this ain't a trap? Like we walk in, and it's actually the mouth of some giant lizard monster waiting to make us lunch." Ibuki questioned.
"There's no way it'd be something like that...right, Dr. Rose? Your dad wouldn't feed us to a big monster, would he?" Natalia asked.
"I struggle to imagine a scenario where he would have to. Unless the old universe was that much different from our own." Rose replied.
"I didn't hear a definitive 'no'." Ibuki uttered.
Barbara walked in front, and promptly pushed the door open. "I'm not waiting another second."
"Wait, Barb--" Kibō tried stopping her.
"No use. She's going to get her moment with him regardless of what we say to her." Sakuya surmised.
"There's at least the guarantee that he won't hurt her...hopefully." Kenneth added.
"We should follow close regardless. And just in case the monster theory turns out to not be an absurdity." Carrie suggested.
The Artisans followed Barbara inside. Rin and Rose looked at each other with concern. They entered nonetheless.
What lay beyond that door was not a classroom by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, the group found themselves in a misty, forested environment. "A whole forest inside of a school building. Only in the Metaverse." Kat commented.
"A friendly reminder that if we related this to anyone, we'd probably be committed." Rin surmised.
Sakuya peered ahead. "Ah...I think I see something."
Ahead of the wandering group, there was a lake. Extending into the lake was a wooden pier, and at the end of that pier was a lone figure. It was Max, in his broken armor, sitting on a crate, with a fishing pole in his hands.
Barbara started forwards, but was blocked by Ibuki extending her arm in front of her. "Just wait a second. If it's a trap, I need to check first."
"But--"
"Babs. I get you. But I've got some things to air out with him, too. Give me a few minutes, and he's all yours."
Barbara reluctantly held back. Ibuki approached Max. She stopped a few feet away from him.
"Get any bites, Captain?" she asked.
"There's nothing in this lake. This is the only place where I can just empty my mind and forget about the world. I can try not thinking about this apocalyptic mess I've made." Max replied without turning around.
"And how's that working out for you?"
"Poorly. But when you're a habitual screw-up like me, things like this aren't surprising. All I can do now is sit and wait for the fruits of my labor to sprout and cover the entire planet. It's too little, too late for me to stop it now. Not that I could be much help now. A broken suit coupled with aches and pains everywhere can do that."
There was silence for a moment before Max spoke again. "I already know what you're here for. You need to get some more licks in before going to stop Bemular--or whatever he's really called. I'll be the first to admit that shooting me in the arm won't entirely cover it for you. And for what it's worth, which admittedly probably isn't a lot, I'm sorry. I took advantage of you during your lowest point, all so I could make myself look like the hero. Nothing could ever undo what I've done. It's why I kept myself distant from you when you obviously wanted something more. In any other situation, I would've reciprocated in a heartbeat. You're a crazy strong person with a heart of gold. Whoever the future Mr. Fireball is, they're going to be one lucky guy. Now that I've said my piece, you can go ahead and toss me around. I've earned it."
Ibuki got up behind him. She got on her knees, and put her arms around his shoulders. "I could just go ahead and strangle you for everything but, honestly...I've used up all of my anger already. Knowing what everyone's gone through, holding onto grudges just ain't worth it. We're all physically and emotionally spent, and we all wanna go home so bad. I'm not gonna knock you around, Maxie. I'm making one thing clear: what you did to my mind was not okay. No matter how you frame it. But I wanna move forward from this. There's a thing I've wanted to do for a long time, and when we get back I'm gonna go right to work on making that happen. I'm gonna make that happy ending a reality. So what I'll say is this, Maxie: I forgive you. And whatever happens to you after this, I hope you can find some kind of peace. Grudges and regrets are a special kind of poison. Life's really the only cure."
She got up. "Be seeing you, Sparkplug." She turned and walked back to the others.
Shortly after, Barbara arrived. She took a step towards him.
"Don't, Barb." he warned.
"Don't tell me not to go near you. Do you have any idea how much I've wanted to see you?"
"You're seeing me now. Even that's a right I shouldn't have anymore. Not after this mess. I was such a fool. A dumb kid from Oklahoma thinking he could be a superhero. I got the perfect opportunity to finally make a difference and I royally screw that up, too. The truth is, Barb...I've always been jealous of you. And the others. You were always the one getting praise from people. Everybody's angel, lighting up every room she walks into. Then to come here and be around so many amazing people, who actually could change the world...it was too much. I couldn't stand being a bit part in your story. It must sound so ridiculous now. I just...wanted to be important."
"You're important to me, Maxie, don't you get it? We've been together from the moment we were born. You could never be a minor part of my story. You're my other half. I'm sorry if I ever did anything to make you feel that way. If I could give up every talent I have if it meant things could go back to normal, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
"And even then...we still wouldn't be equals."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's simple. I used heretical methods to get strength and notoriety I didn't deserve. Even then, I got passed over for KittyKat and the others. But you? You get the people's adoration just by being you. No magic, no mind control. Everyone that meets you, loves you. I couldn't even match that with fake love. That's just my lot in this life. Coming up short."
"Maxie...that isn't--"
"Isn't true? You and I both know otherwise. I needed a god's power to come close to reaching you, and even that wasn't enough. Does that say more about you, or me?" Max shook his head. "Go. You don't have to waste any more time on me. I won't be causing you more heartache than I already have. And don't worry. I don't blame you for any of this. You're one of the only ones that ever cared. This was all my harebrained scheme. Just...tell Mama I'm sorry for not listening to her. What I'd give for a homemade breakfast with a side of 'I told ya so' right now..."
Barbara got down next to him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll come back to get you. I promise. Whatever happens next, just remember that me and Mama will keep being here for you. Nothing will ever change that. Take care of yourself, little brother. I love you."
She got up to walk away.
"You say that like it's the last time you'll ever--"
Max felt a tug on his line. "What...? There's nothing in this lake..."
He pulled, and out came his catch: not a fish, but a worn-out boot.
"Heh...hahahaha..."
He put a hand to his face, and laughed. "Unbelievable...even in a world of my own making...I'm still the loser! Ahahahahahaha...."
It was the same laughter that echoed out when his secret was exposed. Sad, pitiful, resigned.
"Maxie..." Barbara turned to go back to him, but she was grabbed on the shoulder.
"Barbara. We need to go. We'll come back for him, but right now there's nothing left for us to do. I'm sorry...but it's time." Rin dictated.
Barbara couldn't muster any resistance. "I just don't know how much more of this I can take..."
"Just a little longer. I know what you're thinking and feeling, and it's OK. You can tell me everything when it's over. But there's still a battle to be won. So please."
Barbara took a breath. Her willpower had reached its breaking point. "I'm sorry, Maxie. I'm so sorry. I'll be back. I promise."
The group departed the forest. All that could be heard was the fading sound of laughter.
---
Atop the tower, Edelhardt gazed at his own core, hovering above the massive structure. He felt a presence behind him.
"I was beginning to think you were going to ignore this affair, Dr. Wolfe." he said.
Standing there now was Kaya, arms crossed and looking fairly unamused. "I took an oath to only observe long ago, Dr. Wolfe. But you are far too much of a threat for me to ignore now."
"Ah, I see. I'm a 'threat'. That's why you came to see me." He turned to face her. "And here I thought after so many years you'd just say you missed me. Though I suppose I really was there all along, wouldn't you agree?"
"Just another one of Miyatsuko's errors in judgement. And as far as I'm concerned, my husband is long gone. All of us who survived the Cataclysm are mere fragments of what we once were. You won't be getting a response from me."
"Fragments? Don't be ridiculous, Kaya. We are all so much more than the powerless humans we were back then. Ah, and yet here we are again. On the cusp of an event that could permanently alter the fabric of the planet. Only this time, we would have more say in the matter. And let me ask you something else: would you say that our daughter is a 'fragment'?"
"Leave Rose out of this. Your every word and move disgraces the man you once were. After not laying eyes on you for millenia, I'd never imagined that my reaction upon seeing you would be disgust, yet here we are. So now I'll do what must be done."
Kaya moved to attack, but was quickly subdued by a hexagonal barrier surrounding her. "What in the...my power isn't working..."
"Of course it isn't. Every piece of machinery in this realm is an extension of my being. I've keyed that barrier in to your energy signature. As a security program for Odyssea, I naturally possess the genetic profiles of every being that ever inhabited the city. So long as I am in control, your power cannot touch me."
"Ed...this is lunacy. What you intend to do isn't freedom. It's slavery. Why can't you see that?"
"For one simple reason: mankind has spent the duration of its existence in slavery. Chained to the whims and wishes of an absentee God who demands worship and fealty while offering nothing but empty promises in return. The difference here is that I would give every person exactly what they want. No more struggling for something they could never hope to achieve themselves. I will do what you and Miyatsuko should have done from the beginning, and purge the possibility of another Cataclysm from their consciousness. Salvation, rather than entrapment."
"Well at least you're being honest about it now." a voice stated.
Edelhardt sighed. "The cat thief and her friends. You're here sooner than I thought you'd be. Is Captain Thunder in good spirits?"
The Artisans had arrived.
"He's broken is what he is. Thanks to a certain app." Ibuki replied.
"Mother! What are you doing here?" Rose questioned.
"Rose, get away right now! He's--" Kaya ordered.
"Leave already? But we've only just reunited. I think you can stand to hang around for a little longer." Edelhardt snapped his fingers.
Another barrier appeared around Rose. It vanished, reappearing next to Edelhardt. 
"Rose!" Rin exclaimed.
"Just give it up, asshole! You're gonna start taking hostages now that your plan's been cooked?!" Ibuki demanded.
"On the contrary. My plan is far from extinguished. In fact, it's never been more alight." Edelhardt began to hover. "My dear family. We're going to shape this world together. Whether you want to or not."
"Stop it, Ed! This is insanity!" Kaya pleaded.
"I'm begging you, Father! This is needless! You can't force the world to change!" Rose added.
"You're right, of course. That is something only a god is capable of. So bear witness, youth of the Earth. Witness the birth...of the DIVINE!" 
Behind him, the mecha sprang to life. It held out its hands, and the two women were each absorbed into one. The machine's chest opened, and Edelhardt's core moved inside of it. It closed, and the man's human form dissolved away. The mecha began to glow, and rose up into the air, breaking apart and transforming before the Artisans' eyes.
"This man...what in God's name is he--" Carrie uttered.
The split parts slowly reform, reconfiguring themselves into a new shape. The mecha had taken the form of a bearded man, runes adorning his entire body, a crown of thorns wrapped around his head, a cape covering half of his chest. Large, mechanical wings hovered behind him, a halo floating above his head. He maintained the mecha's black-and-blue coloration. He towered over the shocked group.
"I AM THE KING WHO STANDS BEFORE DIVINITY, THE ARBITER OF MANKIND'S DESIRE--I AM NIMROD." his voice boomed, bearing even greater distortion than any Shadow Self possesses.
"Wh-wh-wh-wha..." Sahir stuttered.
"That monstrous size...this overpowering presence..." Kenneth muttered.
"This...this can't be real!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"CHILDREN OF THE EARTH. WHAT YOU FACE NOW IS THE CULMINATION OF MAN'S DESIRE. A SINGLE, UNIFIED WORLD BEREFT OF PAIN OR TRAUMA, WHERE ALL CAN ACHIEVE EVERYTHING THEY'RE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING. TO FIGHT AGAINST ME WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO REJECTING THE WILL OF MANKIND. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS. SUBMIT TO MANKIND'S OVERWHELMING PLEAS FOR MERCY. OR PERISH BEFORE MY GODLY MIGHT."
"What...what are we supposed to do now...?" Natalia asked.
"Even with all our power...could we stand a chance against him with all that he's absorbed?" Sakuya questioned.
"Rose...Ms. Kaya...and all the Desires he's absorbed...his strength is far greater now than anything we've faced up to this point..." Rin relented.
"WHAT IS THE DELAY? I AWAIT YOUR ANSWER."
"...what's your call, KittyKat?" Kibō asked.
"We can't let him win...not after everything!" Barbara exclaimed.
"Kitten...there's far too much at stake--Kitten?" Carrie said.
"Heh...hehehehehe..." 
Kat started to laugh.
"CONSUMED BY THE THROWS OF MADNESS? AM I TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE TRUE FACE OF THE CHAMPION OF CHAOS? HOW PITIABLE. THEN I'LL NOT HUMOR ONE MORE PRECIOUS MOMENT ON THESE TRIVIAL--"
"Oh, just SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Kat finally yelled out.
"Hoo boy, here it comes!" Ibuki gleefully stated.
"It has been one day, ONE! DAY! Where I've had to stand and listen to more egotistical grandstanding than I'll ever hear for the rest of my life! You're not doing what's best for humanity! You've spent all this time eating up their Desires to make yourself into this hulking freakshow you are now! You made Maxie and all of the Wardens into your puppets for it, taking advantage of how much they were hurting so they wouldn't turn down the chance at payback! They aren't your flock, or your patients. They're your food source. Doc must've lucked out in the gene department, cuz I couldn't stand it if she was this pretentious! Y'ALL!"
"Ah! Dude, you don't have to shout! We're standing right here!" Sahir griped.
She pointed towards the giant. "There's our endgame, right there! We're gonna get Doc and her Ma out of there, then send him to the trash bin where he belongs! I want this geezer out of our city! Any objections?!"
"None from this corner." Carrie replied.
"I'm really sick of this mouthy coot!" Ibuki exclaimed.
"It would be unfashionable to run away at this point." Kenneth added.
"He sealed his fate the moment he called himself a god." Sakuya said.
"I am so not in the mood for any more of this crud...let's kick his ass and finally go home!" Sahir stated.
"No more of this geezer's talking! I'm staying and fighting!" Natalia declared.
"Isn't like we haven't beaten a god once already." Kibō stated.
"We win because we don't have any other choice. He's gonna pay for what he did to my brother and everyone else!" Barbara stated.
"Well, fearless leader. Sounds like everyone's mind is made up. As is mine. I'm taking the one he stole from me back with my own two hands. Now it's time to write the end to this tragic tale. Just say the word." Rin dictated.
"Y'all never disappoint me. No real adventure can end without beating up a god. It's game over for you, ya egotistical piece of malware!" Kat exclaimed.
"HOW BRASH AND THOUGHTLESS. IF THAT IS YOUR ANSWER, THEN I WILL BRING HUMANITY'S JUDGEMENT UPON YOU. THE AWAKENING SHALL COME...THROUGH YOUR EXTINCTION."