What has gone on before...

--DAWN of the FINAL DAY

--24 hours REMAIN

--ADAM ponders a POSSIBLE CLUE

--SYNTHESIS wants to ADD to her RESUME

--VOCAL plays with VOIDSTAR

--ROACH LEADER finally STOPS SULKING

--ADAM gives PARENTAL ADVICE

--DAN falls on SAILOR MOON'S HEAD

--VELVET and MIRA lay some SMACK DOWN on THE AUTHORESS

The City, bird's eye view.  It's mostly blanketed in white, excepting a few bare patches here and there around the Bar and where Vocal and Voidstar are "playing".

*SFX: Typical Japanese "end of school" bells*

The sound of the bells echo throughout the entire City.  Slowly, almost mournfully, they begin tolling the hours.

*BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG*

A barely noticible portion of the North Sector disappears into a spray of digitized bits, and at each toll, the hole only gets bigger.

*BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG*

Everything in the path of destruction--snow, buildings, life forms--undergoes a similar fate as the wave passes by.  Some distance away, a small, oddly shaped black crystal begins to glow.

*BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *CRACK*

The disintegration literally comes to a screeching halt along with the tolling as five more crystals activate and an enormous magic circle comes to life.  Hovering over each crystal is a brightly colored orb.

We...made it...

Yes, but for how long?

The tides of fate cannot be held back so easily.

That is not for us to worry about.

We have done what is required of us.

We can only hope that is enough.

At the center of the circle, two humanoid forms can be seen, one whose aura is a nearly blinding white, the other whose aura is pitch black.

It will be enough.  It must.

But at what cost...?

At about the same time, Refrain is still clutching at the egg, trying to keep it warm.

Refrain (sighs): Well, I'm starting to lose feeling in my fingers, so I guess this is it.  I'll try to hold on as long as possible, but... (sighs again)

In the distance, the tolling of the bells could be heard.

Refrain (holding the egg closer): You hear that, Mack? That's the sound of inevitability. (somewhat bitterly) No one can escape Fate, not even the so-called "gods".

Refrain gives a small start when the tolling is suddenly interrupted.

Refrain (puzzled): What in the world...?

Before he can ponder the significance of this, however, the egg begins to shake.

Refrain (trembling): Am I...dreaming?

The shaking becomes increasingly more violent, and noises can be heard from within.  Refrain nearly drops the egg as it begins to crack.

Refrain: !!

Slowly but surely the surface of the egg splinters and breaks open.

Refrain (staring): ......

Several hundred feet above this scene, three small children have reunited.

Hope (happily): 'Niichan! Imoutouchan!

Faith (hugging): See? I told you we'd be together again!

Amadeus (patting Hope and Faith on the head): Yes, the One Who Watches has been true to Her word... (looks distantly) But the path has not yet been completely determined.  We must intervene on behalf of the City.

Nodding in agreement, Hope and Faith form a circle with Amadeus and bow their heads in prayer, each glowing faintly.

At the Bar--or, rather, just outside of it--even with Lina, Gourry, and a totally enraged Tifa battling full throttle, they can barely keep up with Ascot.

Ascot (pouting): Three against one? That's hardly fair.

Lina (gasping for breath): Oh, like battling a Hellmaster-backed Mazoku is fair!

Tifa (charging up a Limit Break): I don't care who the hell he is! He wrecked my Bar! >_<

Inside, the rest of the patrons have also gathered downstairs both to watch the fight and prepare for a quick getaway in case things get ugly.  The Shitou Sentai Beta, who have been sitting at the tables the whole time, observes the battle through the windows, some with calm and some with alarm.

Aoi (sweatdropping): Should we help yet?

Luna (sipping some tea): Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.  I say we wait out until she calms down a bit first.

As another explosion sounds, Dante breaks out crying.

Roisin (rocking Dante): Shh, it's okay, don't cry...

Dives (distantly): I guess...this is it...

Roisin (alarmed): What?

Dives (not looking at Roisin): All this time, I've been thinking long and hard about why she chose to save me except to make restitution for what I've done.

Roisin, remembering the Authoress' strange behavior when Dante was born, has no reply.

Dives (continuing): But...on the other hand...I can't think of any way to begin to pay back the guilt I've caused... (even more distant) Except...

Roisin (eyes widen): No!

Dives (distant): I know that right now, I won't be much use except as cannon fodder, but maybe that'll be enough to stop him...

Aerith (softly): But if you die now, you can only atone once.

Dives (alarmed): You were listening?

Aerith (smiling): Sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing...(places a hand on his shoulder) are you really that determined to die?

Dives (looks to the floor): Well, I...

Aerith (gently): I don't think the Authoress saved you so that you could throw your life away now.

Dives (looks at her): But--

Aerith presses a long, elaborate staff into Dives' hand.

Aerith (gently): As grievous as your crimes were, your life is worth much more than that.  Instead of seeking death, you should strive to make living penance.

Dives stares at the White and Black Materias nestled in the staff.

Dives (helplessly): But...I can't fight anymore...I don't know how...

Aerith (gently): Surely you remember something from before.

Dives (glumly): What's there to remember? All I ever did for anything was-- (lightbulb goes on) That's it!

Dives grasps the staff firmly in both hands and holds it upright in front of him.

Dives (thinking): If these Materia have any inherent power, I should be able to tap it...

Dives lets out a small gasp as the sudden surge of energy nearly overwhelms him.

Kaworu (impressed): Hey, check out the pyrotechnics at that table.

Peroth (shrugging): So Dives remembered that he's basically a living energy conduit.  Big deal.

Rei (sitting on Hugh's lap): Now what, Hugh-chan? Do you really want to miss out on the fun?

Hugh (grinning): Of course not.

Back outside, Ascot freezes in mid-spell when he sees Dives walking out of the Bar.  For a moment, the faint image of a very displeased Authoress can be seen hovering behind Dives.

Ascot (cheerfully): Why, hello, Dives-kun! Here to be part of the fun?

Aoi (materializing out through a window): Hey, y'all! Looks like you could use a hand!

The rest of the Shitou Sentai Beta make their entrances as well.

Hugh (powerposing): Shitou Sentai Beta joins the battle!

Ascot (staring): All of you...? (smiles) Ahaha...hehehe...GWEHEHEHEHEHE! (disturbingly pleased) Excellent! The more the merrier!

EGC Library, interior.  Hellmaster Phibrizzo is playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with Chatty, who is still in her Mazoku form.

Phibrizzo (sing-song): Oh, honey? (blows up a shelf) Where are you, dearest? (kaboom) Come out, come out, wherever you are?

Phibrizzo rounds a corner and is somewhat surprised to find himself face to face with Irene, although the surprise is not at seeing her but the large bow she's weilding in her hands.

Irene (preparing to draw the bow): Peekaboo, Hellmaster.  LIGHT COME FORTH!

Chatty (peeking out of her hiding place): Who in the world--

An immense shaft of blinding energy comes to life in Irene's hands, but she doesn't seem to have the least bit of trouble holding it.

[Authoress' note: For those of you who haven't seen Slayers Try, the bow of light is the strongest of a set of five weapons of which Gourry's sword of light is also a member.]

Chatty (thinking): She's got to be one of Dot's characters...only they'd be insane enough to try something like this.

Phibrizzo (feigned hurt): Isn't this overdoing things just a bit?

Irene (with a small smile): L-sama said that your presence wasn't a big enough emergency to warrant permission for channeling her powers, so I settled for the next best thing.

Chatty (thinking incredulously): She calls that the "next best thing"? But then again, if she can weild the Bow of Light, she might not be bluffing about L-sama...

Phibrizzo (returning the smile): And I'm sure Mother also gave you a lecture on butting out of other people's personal problems?

Irene (raises an eyebrow): I'd hardly call attempting to kill the Demiurge of the EGC a "personal problem".

Phibrizzo (pouting): Chatty's been a bad girl! I'm not allowed to discipline her a little?

Chatt (gulps, thinking): He's angrier than I thought...

Irene (scoffs): Like you've been a model spouse.

Before this argument can go much further, Ordinal 6442 bowls through the ceiling and into Hellmaster Phibrizzo, knocking the both of them into several rows of shelves.  The Ordinal, who is now glowing a bright neon green, is the first to get up.

Ordinal (grinning madly): Get up, "Phibby-kun".  Torturing you would be no fun if you went down just like that.

Chatty (thinking): Now he's here, too? Maybe reactivating Thursday wasn't that great an idea after all...

Several decades worth of knowledge goes up in flames as Phibrizzo floats out of the books, mirroring the Ordinal's expression.

Phibrizzo: Same to you, "Ord-kun", same to you.

The City, exterior.  Velvet pauses from waylaying on the Authoress to admire his handiwork.  As the scattered feathers and blood attest, he's done a very thorough job of plucking the Authoress' wings.  She hasn't died yet, but she just might wish she were, especially after Velvet walks up to her and gives her stomach sharp kick.

Velvet (coldly): Well, Authoress, what do you have to say for yourself now?

*strained* Does becoming what you hate make you happy?

Velvet (coldly): I doubt I'm in any danger of turning into you.

The Authroess wimpers as the chains tighten even more, literally squeezing the life out of her.

Velvet (coldly): You think you've got us fooled with your so-called "Divine Protection" angle? Don't be stupid.  It's far too obvious that all you want to do is screw with our lives for your personal entertainment.

Velvet picks up the Authoress by the collar so that they're meeting eye to eye.

Velvet (coldly): From now on, we will be the masters of our own destinies.

*chuckles* I'd like to see you try to do it better.

His face darkening in anger, Velvet throws the Authoress to the ground and resumes the beating.  This time, there is no reaction from the Authoress when the infuriated Velvet finally stops.

Velvet (skeptical): She's dead already...?

He stares at her unmoving body uneasily, half expecting her to jump back up and declare triumphantly that he had been tricked.  But no such thing happens.

Velvet (nervous): This is almost...too easy...

Velvet is still guarding the Authoress' body when Mira returns with the orb containing Synthesis.

Mira (hugging Velvet): Tadaimasu.

Velvet (absentmindedly): Okaeri nasai.  How did it go with my "little sister"?

Mira (giggles): She sure was surprised about getting her head lopped off! (holds up the orb) I caught the naughty girl trying to get out, too!

Velvet: Well, if she really is related to me, then that orb won't be able to hold her for long.  And I have a feeling she has allies that will come to her aid if they know of the danger she's in.

Mira (pouts): But we can't worry about that now! We have a revolt to orchestrate!

Velvet (carelessly): Yes, yes, of course...

Mira (pulls on Velvet's arm): We're going to be late if we don't hurry!

Velvet: All right...

The two of them disappear.  Shortly afterwards, Adam steps through a plothole, pulsing thread still in hand.

Adam: Well, this is it, the end of the line... (notices Dot's body) Oh.

Adam stares at the body, his expression unreadable.

Adam (mutters): Now what...?

Choirmaster materializes over Adam's shoulder and takes a look at the Authoress as well.

Choirmaster (feigning shock): My, my, how awful.  No wonder she was so eager to push you away.

Adam (mutters): Ah, little bird, you've come out of the bag again...

Choirmaster (stage whisper): Even now, in his so-called defiance, he's still being used by the RL he destests so much...(clicks his tongue) if he knew, he'd kill himself.

Adam (showing no emotion): Yeah, it sucks to realize that there's nothing you can do to derail the Divine Plan.

Choirmaster: "Damned if you do, damned if you don't?" (shakes his head) A pitiful excuse for laziness.

Adam (as above): It hasn't occurred to you at all that this is exactly how she wanted things to happen?

Choirmaster (blinks): Pardon?

Adam: If you don't get it by now, I sure as hell aren't going to explain it to you.

Unsheathing his sword, Adam thrusts it into the snowy ground next to the Authoress' body.

Adam: A word of advice to you, little bird--never make unwarrented assumptions.  You'll embarrass yourself less that way.

Choirmaster: ?

Just as Adam is about to walk away, the sword begins to glow brightly.

Choirmaster (realization dawning): OH!

For the first time in a very long time, Adam breaks out into a real smile.

Adam (with a touch of smugness): See what I mean?

Y'know, I just realized recently that all my deaths so far have been caused by Velvet.  Weird stuff happens even when I don't plan it... o.O;