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Story/09 - The Ending/The Ending.txt

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+ LAST CHAPTER
+ 
+------------------------- 
+ 
+*BRING ALL 12 REGALIA FORTH*
+*CALL DOWN ZEROTH*
+ 
+The island itself begins to rumble, and all twelve gates are now shining with ethereal glows of their respective colors, illuminating the entire island. You see a thirteenth light appear from behind the welcome center, a bright golden glow that outshines the other twelve.
+
+The trees behind the welcome center start falling one after another with thunderous crashes. When those sounds stop, you hear the crumbling and crushing of stone, glass, and metal. In mere moments, the welcome center collapses in a cloud of dust and debris. 
+ 
+From the cloud steps Reiji the Stallion, eyes shining an ethereal gold and body brimming with warbling golden energy, head held high. Every step he takes releases a soft pulse of golden energy from his hooves, causing a small crater in the concrete and asphalt as he makes a prideful march toward your group.
+  
+He finally stops his destructive march right in front of your group, the aura around him alone applying an odd physical pressure, making the air itself feel heavier. He raises his arms and holds them out before him, a proud voice ringing out with a second-long echo.
+
+"Congratulations, ye warriors of might and wisdom, for accomplishing that with none could do before you. You have proven yourselves worthy and exalted members of your kind. I am here to give you that which has remained unclaimed for half a millennium, a prize beyond any other across existence itself."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT PRIZE)
+"I have watched your kind over the last eon, and your struggles are older than you realize. It is written into the fabric of your being, into the fetters of existence itself. What you are is a fragment of the universe's own birth cry-- MY birth. The echo of a cosmos' first steps into existence as something new."
+
+"From this first word uttered across the endless emptiness came the concepts that defined all of existence in and endless radiant spiral... and yet here you stand, a mote of that magical infinity, caught in that ancient dance, wielding that same primal force that forged you AND the worlds you occupy... yet you still tremble."
+
+"You fear your daily lives and struggles will consume you, and leave you as meaningless atoms in its wake. I have seen this sensation in the countless beings whom have walked before you. What I offer is a chance to exist in a state beyond that, where the tireless struggles of mortality will never touch you again. THAT... is your prize."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE YOU)
+"As the name you know me by suggests, I am that which existed before anything else. The first of this universe's states of existence, he whom from which all is sourced and originated. My names are endless and infinite, some incomprehensible, but for simplicity sake, Zeroth is more than adequate."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT IS THIS PLACE)
+"The Diadem is a fragment of my own existence given tangible form, designed in such a manner to stoke the curiosities of your kind. The Diadem and its dozen rooms are each their own unique paradises, designed to allure and placate those of a weaker will, while sustaining and challenging those of a stronger mindset."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE DEMENSE MASTERS)
+"The Masters, as you refer to them, are personified concepts. Anything and everything that is, was, or will be, is sourced in part from them, as they are sourced from me. They are the elements at their rawest and most powerful, given sentience in a manner such as myself."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR)
+"The Challenges are a manner of exposure to the Masters' rawest and most potent states of existence. Through any direct engagement, they exude immense amounts of their element, as you would put it. And as I've witnessed since the dawn of time, your kind are adept at absorbing, wielding, and commanding that raw element."
+
+-----
+
+(WHAT ARE THE REGALIA)
+"The Regalia are fragments of each Masters' existence given tangible form, designed in such a manner to further your adaptation to the rawest element of the Masters themselves. They are also to mark you as those whom are on the path to the ultimate reward, and exalt you above those around you, as you should be."
+
+-----
+
+(WHY DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS)
+"Much as how the Masters share their own Demense with you, I am seeking entities I can elevate to an identical status as myself. Ones whom understand a different perspective of this universe from me, whom I may then share the experience of myself with them."
+
+-----
+
+(WHY DO YOU SEEK THESE PEOPLE)
+His demeanor shifts a little, becoming slightly more serious and thoughtful. "Do you know what it is like to exist across infinity? To hear your oown words bounce off the walls of existence, with noone threre to answer?"
+
+"That is my existence, and has been since its beginning. Whether it be here on this Diadem or out in the vast emptiness of the universe, it is all and only me. Unendingly so."
+
+"All I've ever known is the presence of myself, raw and unfiltered staring back at me from thirteen different angles. I've sat with it, listened to it, and understood its infinite weight on what YOU would call my 'soul.'"
+
+"INFINITY IS A HEAVY THING TO CARRY BY ONESELF."
+
+-----
+
+*NO FURTHER QUESTIONS*
+
+"Then it is time we depart from the Diadem and claim your prize. I need only to reclaim that which is mine that I bestowed onto this planet so long ago."
+
+He places his hand on the ground, and everything begins to rumble all over again. The rock walls surrounding Diadem begin to crumble and fall to the ground with thunderous crashes, revealing clean golden magic metal walls inside.
+
+What remains is a massive jagged 12-point gold metal circlet around Diadem, resembling something of an extremely large crown, with each of the gates embedded into it like crown jewels. 
+ 
+The gates all shift from their respective colors to gold, and every person & creature inside is suddenly forced out. When these people and creatures realize everything is shaking & breaking, they begin to scream and run in a panic, a few of them falling off Diadem into the ocean through the lowest points in the metal walls. 
+  
+*IF THEY COMPLAIN* 
+He removes his hand from the ground and stands back up, the shaking slowly coming to a stop. "I HAVE WITNESSED THESE PEOPLE GROW, WITHER, AND DIE OVER THE LAST 547 YEARS. I HAVE LEARNED THESE PEOPLE ARE INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THEE. SO LONG AS YOU ARE ELEVATED, THE REST CAN BE IGNORED."
+  
+*If they protest again* 
+"HMM... I MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED YOUR MORTAL SENSE OF CARE... I HAD HOPED IT A SIMPLE MATTER TO APPEASE TO YOUR MORTAL DESIRES."  
+ 
+"I HAVE A SOLUTION. WE SHALL HOLD OURSELVES AN HONORABLE DUEL, FOR THE FATE OF THE PEOPLE OF DIADEM AND YOUR GODHOOD. BEST ME, AND YOU MAY HAVE IT ALL. BUT FAIL, AND EVERYTHING & EVERYONE WILL BE FORFEIT, INCLUDING YOUR REWARD. WILL THAT SUFFICE?" 
+ 
+*THE PEOPLE THAT FELL* 
+"HM.. I WOULD NOT WISH FOR ANY DISTRACTIONS FROM OUR MOST HONORABLE DUEL.. VERY WELL. ALLOW ME A MOMENT."
+
+He will raise his hand, glowing with gold energy. Every person that fell will suddenly be encased in that same energy and lifted from the water, then placed safely on Diadem. "WILL THIS SATISFY YOU?"
+
+Every person in Diadem is very quickly converging on your location, slowly encircling you all and literally becoming the arena boundary for your incoming fight with God. Apparently.
+
+*THE FIGHT WILL LAST UNTIL THEY THROW EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT HIM*
+*HE WILL POINT OUT THEIR VARIOUS SKILLS AND POWERS EACH TURN THEY TAKE*
+*HE WILL COMMENT THE STRONGEST ONE USED THOSE ABILITIES TO CHEAT*
+*AND WILL THREATEN TO RESET THE EXPERIMENT UPON HIS VICTORY*
+*BUT EACH SUBSEQUENT STRIKE WILL SHOW IT IS NOT JUST THEM*
+*ALL OF THEM WILL IMPRESS HIM ONE BRUISE AT A TIME UNTIL HE SURRENDERS*
+AFTER THE FIGHT 
+  
+He kneels in pain, panting softly. "I YIELD... YOU HAVE BESTED ME..." He looks up to your group, his tone shifting to a less loud variant. "I have witnessed this planet's evolution for an entire eon, watched the denizens of this false island for half a millennium, and none have come so far as to have the power to best me, even in my current state." 
+ 
+He slowly stands and walks forward. "I will keep my word and allow these people safe passage from the Diadem. Before then, shall we discuss your true prize?" 
+ 
+*WHAT IS THE PRIZE* 
+"Your prize WAS to be power akin to my own, but it would appear you already possess it. Instead, I offer anything else your heart desires. You could be immortal like myself or the other concepts, have unlimited power in a different matter, endless wealth from any nation, anything your heart desires." 
+ 
+He bellows in anguish as he is struck from behind by Nash, still carrying his golden cutlass. And he is looking very excited. "I HEARD THE WHOLE THING, YOU SON OF A BITCH! You never intended to free us, you were gonna let us all DIE HERE! Which means I was FUCKING RIGHT!!!"
+
+He laughs hysterically before continuing. "Hey Zeroth, wanna know what I wish for?! I wish to sentence you to death like you just tried to do to ALL OF US!" 
+ 
+He jams his whole sword into Zeroth's back, causing him to cry out in anguish, but the sword does not come out the other side.  
+ 
+All the hysterical joy Nash was experiencing disappears in an instant. "What?! What are you-- NO! LET GO OF ME!!" His arm is being pulled in and against Zeroth's body through the initial cut he made, slowly becoming absorbed into him. 
+ 
+With a sharp scream of terror, the two bodies fully combine. A brilliant golden flash erupts from their physical union, blinding all of you for a brief moment. When the light clears, a new entity stands before you.  
+ 
+A ten foot tall prismatic fox man with flowing pearlescent hair, atop centaur legs of the same hue, stretches his arms outward, his rear adorned by thirteen fox tails, each of which is tipped in a different color matching each element of magic, the central one tipped in gold. 
+ 
+The eyes open, and within shine the colors of all thirteen shades of magic, as the new creature gazes upon your group, as well as himself. His voice sounds like Nash, but with Zeroth's as an echo. "I... have assumed control of all... All his knowledge, his magic, his POWER, everything is in my grasp."
+
+He suddenly bellows out in anguish, his new form pulsing with energy. "This body is unstable with a humanimal element..."
+
+They shake their head a bit. "But it doesn't matter. I now have the power and freedom to get my revenge on Zeroth, and in the most uniquely ironic manner imaginable... I will wipe everything he and his extensions ever created. And I'll do it with his own two hands."
+
+They turn to your group, extending a hand glowing in golden energy. "Just because we escaped his little game, doesn't mean we escaped him... I will free us all from Zeroth, and I will start by freeing you Kings of Kings first."
+ 
+A black long sword falls from the air, glowing with red magic, slicing directly into the center of his left hand and binding it to the ground. "WHAT IS THIS?!" 
+ 
+Your group's bodies land on the ground, but you feel several HP and MP vials fall into your laps as twelve familiar bodies pull forward and around you. The twelve Demense Masters have stepped forward.
+
+The corrupted creature slams his fist into the ground. "You would dare to defy your Master?! Your Creator?!" 
+ 
+Aodaghan: We would defy the shit out of you any day of the week! 
+ 
+Conroy: Not the words I'd choose, but I concur! 
+ 
+Zahir: This party is over! It's not fun anymore! 
+ 
+Corentin: You have disrupted the peace of this land! 
+ 
+Dorrin: You'll atone for every tear these people shed! 
+ 
+Arledge: We don't wanna fight ya'll, but we will! 
+ 
+Miranda: We love these people like our own! 
+ 
+Whittaker: We've always been careful around you, and we're done!
+ 
+Fulmo: There is no justice in your actions! 
+ 
+Thanatos: We will fighd you, do prodecd dhem! 
+ 
+Cassius: ... (He will just be standing there cross-armed and silent)
+
+Striker: What Master Cassius means to say is, we're done hiding in the dark!
+ 
+Tlaloc: WE! HELP! FRIENDS! 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth slams his free hand into the ground again, one eye shining vibrant gold only while the other maintains its multicolor glow. His voice has suddenly changed to be dripping with hatred. 
+ 
+"ENOUGH OF YOUR SENTIMENTAL BULLSHIT! YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN EXTENSIONS OF ME! LITERAL FRAGMENTS OF POWER DESIGNED TO BE MY LESSER! THESE CREATURES WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT SHOWED ANY POTENTIAL TO EVOLVE AND BECOME MY EQUALS, AND THEY PROVED TO BE A FAILURE OF A SPECIES! THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO DRAW BREATH!" 
+ 
+A golden sword this time falls from the sky and into Zeroth's free hand, pinning it to the ground. But attached to it is King Akarui, now wearing a military outfit. He jumps off the colossal hand and lands before your group, facing Nash-Zeroth. 
+ 
+"If that's how you feel, Nash-Zeroth, then the Thirteen Kings of Diadem will fight back!" He turns back around to your group with a smile and a wink. "With a little help from the Kings of Kings, of course." 
+ 
+The twelve demense Masters step forward with Akarui leading them. "Okay.. Aodaghan, Dorrin, Tlaloc, you're on offense. Hit him hard and make it hurt."
+- Aodaghan flies in overhead and screeches a ball of flame right into his face
+- Dorrin goes for one of the legs and punches it right in the kneecap
+- Tlaloc rolls into a ball and slams into his back with a mighty THUD
+ 
+"Zahir, Corentin, Whitaker, Fulmo, you're on range. Keep him distracted so their hits are more effective."
+- Zahir follows in behind Aodaghan and flashes him with blinding light
+- Corentin flies over him and blasts his entire backside with wind darts
+- Whitaker throws several ice blades at his legs, freezing them in place
+- Fulmo runs in behind and fires lightning bolts at his flank
+ 
+"Conroy, Miranda, Thanatos, Cassius, you're all on support. Make openings for everyone else. Arledge, you back them up and keep everyone on their feet."
+- Conroy suddenly binds both his arms in individual orange spells to slow them
+- Miranda encases the ground in a heavy wave of gravity magic, pulling him down
+- Thanatos flings a wave of necrotic energy right into his rear legs
+- Cassius wraps his own shadow around his throat and squezes tightly
+- Arledge hops in and suddenly slams both feet right into his head
+
+Their collective actions magaed to disorient and harm him enough to put him to the ground, but he is definitely struggling to get back up.
+ 
+"Hold your positions from here. I'll be preparing your reinforcements." He then runs back to your group, kneeling down and making sure you've all taken your potions. 
+ 
+"Okay the Masters are amazing, but it's like Nash-Zeroth said. The masters are literally DESIGNED to not be at their level. Now I have a really stupid idea that might just work, but it all hinges on one thing. I didn't have a great view from where I was, but is there any chance Nash and Zeroth fused WITH that gold weapon?" 
+ 
+AFTER THEY CONFIRM 
+"Okay, then this might work. I want all of you to challenge them, full gold circle, and wager the gold sword inside them. I have a hunch, and this might fix everything at once." 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth suddenly bellows out as his thirteen tails all glow with raw magic, the gold tailtip suddenly sending out a wave of energy so bright it blinds all the demense Masters for a moment.  
+ 
+While they're distracted, the other twelve tails all fire magic beams at a different Master, each one hitting their elemental opposite and knocking them to the ground around him in one collective shot.  
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth looks around at the twelve injured Masters, showing immense disdain. "Pathetic. I expected better from extensions of myself at the very least." 
+ 
+They groan as their body begins to warble again like before, the injuries they sustained attempting to heal themselves. They turn to Akarui. "This was the best you could do? An asssult against me with my own fetters of power?" 
+ 
+Akarui looks up to Nash-Zeroth. "I can do more and you know it! I know what you're capable of, and I always have! You don't scare me!"
+
+Nash-Zeroth leans down to meet him at eye level. "I could kill you with no effort and you know it. You've done NOTHING but impede me at every turn! All I wanted was freedom!"
+
+Akarui snaps back at him. "All you wanted was to make your parents' deaths mean something!"
+
+"DONT TALK LIKE YOU KNOW ME OR MY PAIN!"
+
+"I WAS THERE WHEN THEY DIED!"
+
+Nash-Zeroth pauses for a second. "You what?"
+
+Akarui sighs heavily. "I had only been here a month. The Thunder Force invited my squad and I to join their ranks, and it was our first real assignment. I met your parents that day, they were good people. Your mother was beautiful, and your father was charismatic as all hell. You look just like him."
+
+"Stop it."
+
+"I met you too, that morning. I was asked to keep an eye on you while they started the drill. Then the explosion came, and you were just gone... do you even remember that? Because I do. Very. Vividly."
+
+"STOP. IT."
+
+"When I saw you after I was thrilled to death, but... I couldn't let anything like that happen again. Tragedies happen in pairs, not singles. My greatest failure is what spurred me to be King, so I wouldn't let you OR the people be hurt like that again."
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth slams their hand into Akarui, his body skidding to your group's feet. They run toward Akarui and well past the Demense Masters, stopping a few feet away from your group. "WE ARE WELL PAST THE POINT OF THIS. I don't care about the people anymore! I have my freedom, and I'm going to use it to take my revenge against Zeroth! Only now, I'M STARTING WITH YOU!" 
+ 
+Akarui sighs a bit and hangs his head. "Well then... it's all up to you, Kings of Kings. Say the magic words."
+
+And right before you say those words, he jumps far outside its capture range. "I JUST HOPE I'M RIGHT!" 
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+*CHALLENGE NASH-ZEROTH* 
+Upon hearing the phrase, Nash-Zeroth bellows in pain as the outline of the gold cutlass appears in his torso. The gold walls that were once coated with rock will begin to radiate with energy, before a gold circle expands from your group's feet AND Nash-Zeroth. 
+ 
+Akarui lands outside the circle. "I was right! The Diadem is a Regalia! IT'S ZEROTH'S REGALIA! The gold circles are INVOCATIONS of its magic!" 
+ 
+The sword was a big enough piece that it could work like an antenna! And Nash was the first one to get his hands on it AND give it a command it could work with!" 
+ 
+This revelation causes the unstable Nash-Zeroth to screech in anger, clawing at the ground for a moment. "I WILL FEED YOU YOUR OWN ENTRAILS YOU POMPOUS PIGEON!" 
+ 
+Akarui actually looks a little offended at that one, as Nash-Zeroth turns to your group in the circle. "FINE! ONE FINAL BATTLE IT IS! THE KINGS OF KINGS WILL BECOME THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF WAR!!!" 
+ 
+AFTER THEY WIN 
+ 
+Nash-Zeroth will collapse in defeat, the gold circle around you all dissipating. His body begins to warp and writhe in pain as a small gold circle appears on his chest, the golden sword from within producing its handle, awaiting the victor to grab and remove it. 
+ 
+(FIGHT/PHYSIQUE ROLL) 
+The sword is surprisingly not giving immediately and requires more effort to pull out. 
+ 
+Upon removing it, you pull an entire separate body out of its chest that is also clinging to the back of the sword by its non-bladed edge. Nash goes careening several yards away and lands & rolls a couple times with a dull thud. 
+ 
+The body in front of you pulses with energy, glowing brightly and thrashing about with an ear piercing screeching noise, the body expanding like a balloon, the skin peeling and revealing golden energy in its rawest form underneath.  
+ 
+You don't need to be a genius to realize that body is going critical from losing its primary mind (Nash) and is about to explode. 
+
+*GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION*
+
+-----
+
+*IF NOONE HAS A SOLUTION*
+
+King Akarui will run past everyone. "ANYONE WHO HAS A GOLD WEAPON, GRAB IT AND FOLLOW MY LEAD!"
+
+He grabs the gold sword he flew in with, and run into the growing body, hacking and slashing it with the sword. Every cut anyone makes causes misting of the gold dust to appear as it slowly eats the magic body, and it does appear to slow the expanding with every cut made. 
+ 
+(LET EVERYONE MAKE A FIGHT/SHOOT ROLL WITH THE WEAPONS & RESPOND ACCORDINGLY BASED ON RESULTS) 
+ 
+The hacking and slashing has caused the massive body to go DOWN in size significantly, but it is still getting brighter over time, and is still likely to go critical in only a few seconds.  
+
+You hear a familiar chittering from behind (PLAYER). "Hehehe.. looks like 'I' get to be the big hero this time~"
+
+Striker appears from Akarui's shadow and pushes him & all the other gold weapon holders away. He chuckles and pulls out all the gold weapons everyone had, as well as a few more gold daggers. "Consider this MY repayment for you saving my Master from his fate, Kings of Kings~"
+
+He turns to the expanding body. "I've always wanted to say this.. I CHALLENGE THEE!"
+
+It takes a moment, but the six gold weapons he holds AND the Diadem glow gold again as a barrier circle appears around Striker and the unstable Zeroth. With a rebellious screech, he leaps forward and stabs all six weapons into the body, causing it to burst and erupt with magic energy. Striker turns to your group and gives you all a small wave, before the light is too bright to see. 
+ 
+The explosion is completely contained within the gold magic circle, but after a few seconds, it does eventually shatter like glass, and everyone is knocked back onto the ground by the blast wave. 
+ 
+----- 
+
+*REGARDLESS OF CHOICE*
+
+When everything settles, you see Zeroth, battered and bruised but in one piece and lying in the middle of a crater. You also see small particles of gold dust elevating from his body into the open air, like snow in reverse. 
+ 
+The demense masters run to his side, Conroy gently lifting him up a bit so he can talk. "You... may not have meant to, but you saved me... I thank you... Kings of Kings." 
+ 
+King Akarui calls out to you from a distance. "Guys... Nash feels cold... and his heartbeat is really slow... I don't think he's gonna make it..."
+ 
+Zeroth speaks out. "You are correct. The physical trauma of melding with me, taking on so much damage, and being ejected how he was was too much for his mortal body. His life is fading... as is mine." 
+ 
+The Demense Masters all freak out hearing this. "The strain on my existence was too much... being defeated in combat, struck down by a piece of my own Regalia, fused with a mortal in such a manner, defeated again, and being at the core of that explosion has taken most of my strength..." 
+ 
+*IF NOONE ASKS* 
+Conroy will look around. "Well if noone else will ask, I will. What does that mean for us?" 
+ 
+Zeroth will shake his head slowly. "I gave you all separate lives and will, but the essence of your existence is still tethered to mine. It matters not if it is yours or mine, equilibrium MUST be maintained. If I go, then... you go with me." 
+
+All the demense masters turn to themselves, then look to you guys before Zeroth continues. "And I do not have long." 
+ 
+(Give everyone a chance to complain, cry, and be angry about it) 
+ 
+Zeroth will speak out. "You truly care for them, don't you?" 
+ 
+WHEN THE PARTY SPEAKS OUT 
+Zeroth will turn his head to your group. "I was not referring to you."
+
+All twelve demense Masters nod in agreement. "I see... I am not a fan of such a title, but as YOUR 'King,' I am going to give you my final order. Bring me to the one you call Nash. I wish to speak with him." 
+ 
+AFTER ANY RESPONSE 
+"When I was melded with him, I saw inside his mind. Sifted through his memories. His deceased parents were the only people in his life that mattered to him. Without them, he was alone. Adrift amongst a sea of beings he felt no connection to, no matter how much he desired it to be otherwise. I resonate with him on that level. Please... grant me this one request." 
+ 
+SOMEONE CARRIES HIM BESIDE NASH 
+
+Akarui has been feeding him an endless stream of healing magic, not intending to let him go. It's keeping him alive, but not much else.
+
+He will lie beside him, lying on his back while Nash lies on his stomach. "Hello Nash..." 
+ 
+N: H-hey.. you son of a bitch.. 
+ 
+Z: Still alive I see.. 
+ 
+N: Yeah.. gonna take more than that to kill ME.. 
+ 
+Z: I wish I could say the same.. I will cease to exist very shortly.. 
+ 
+N: Yeah.. cards on the table, I'm probably right behind you.. 
+ 
+Z: ...do you have any regrets? 
+ 
+N: Well, I... wish I hit you a little harder, heh 
+ 
+Z: Hm.. all things considered, I suppose I could say the same.. 
+ 
+Both of them laugh at the joke weakly, sighing a little after. 
+ 
+Z: Truthfully, I.. have only one real regret.. 
+ 
+N: Lay it on me, Z.. Dead men tell no tales and all that shit.. 
+ 
+Z: When I found this planet an eon ago, I had a simple curiosity, to see what life was like from their perspective. A species with origins not so dissimilar from myself. For a brief moment, I was able to see it from your eyes, however corrupt. It felt... nice.
+
+N: Is that right? Well.. I guess it was kinda nice not being alone in my head.. or.. your head..? You get the point.. 
+ 
+Z: Indeed I do... 
+
+In the distance, you hear a young voice in the background yell out. "What the heck is going on?! The whole island was shaking!"
+
+The audience parts and turns to reveal Caelum, rubbing his eyes as though he was just asleep. He walks closer, takes one look at Nash & Zeroth, and his eyes widen a bit. "Oh... you're... dying..."
+
+Conroy approaches and kneels beside Caelum. "Caelum, I know this is sudden, but... I'm sure you can piece together what this means for us, yes?"
+
+Caelum looks up, eyes widening, and you see indigo colored teardrops stream down his cheeks, and he staggers backwards a step, losing his composure for a moment. "No.. all of you..?"
+
+Conroy is smiling solemnly, still kneeling, and nods slowly. "I'm really glad you came by.. gives us a chance to see each other one last time.."
+
+Caelum will clench his fists in frustration, trying to wipe his flow of tears away. "No no no! I'm not losing my family again! I can't be alone again!! I WON'T!!!"
+
+He will step toward Nash, looking a mix of sad and angry. "I just KNOW you're the reason this happened... but even with all this, I still can't bring myself to hate you.."
+
+Zeroth chimes in. "Do not blame him, Seeker child."
+
+Caelum will pause and look to Zeroth in shock as he continues. "The fault is mine. My selfish desires caused all of this. And it bothers me the mere touch of Nash's humanity made me recognize this."
+
+Caelum will be shocked by this. "How do you... wait, you actually HAVE emotions right now? That shouldn't be possible, you ripped out what little you had to make THEM."
+
+He points at the Demense Masters, all huddled together and seeking whatever comfort they can get from these last moments.
+
+Caelum has a moment of inspiration. "Wait... If you two have resonated at some level, I might be able to make that a permanent solution."
+
+Zeroth closes his eyes for a moment. "Seeker child, are you proposing to meld our forms together?"
+
+"I'm proposing I try. I can't make any guarantees of what the outcome will be though."
+
+Zeroth smiles slightly. "Are those not the words you told the chicken man before you split him in two?"
+
+"How do you even know about that???"
+
+Zeroth will laugh weakly. "I saw it in Nash's memories. He was Samson's associate in college. He saw the whole thing through the doorway when you separated the two, and ran away. He has been running from you, in addition to the island, since then."
+
+Caelum will kneel beside Zeroth. "I don't get you... I split a man into two and get no complaint, I hide in plain sight as a false Demense Master with no complaint, and now I propose you fuse with a mortal and you still have no complaint?"
+
+"You never attempted to ruin the project, so I made a few minor exceptions... I see no reason not to allow one more."
+
+Caelum moves to Nash, barely being kept alive by Akarui, exhausting every mote of magic to keep him alive. "How do you feel about my proposal?"
+
+Nash sighs heavily. "Well... the way I see it, it's either we both die here... or we both get a chance at living together... tough call, and I know I'm gonna hate myself for this one, heh.. (cough hard) ..but, I got nothing left to lose.."
+
+Z: Your bravery is admirable... Goodbye, Nash.. 
+ 
+N: So long, you arrogant horse's ass.. 
+
+Zeroth reaches for Nash's hand and grasps it as tight as he can, as Akarui finally stops healing him, stepping away with a stumble. Caelum raises his hands, emitting a wave of indigo magic across them both. You see Zeroth's body glow in an old gold aura, while Nash's begins to glow more of a pyrite fool's gold color.
+
+You see both physical forms dissolve in a way to become half transparent, slowly overlap atop each other, and begin to shine like before, but not blindingly so. This time, the shine is a warm New Gold glow.
+ 
+Once the shine fades, a new entity lies before you with a mix of traits of both species. The body and fur pattern is largely Nash's fox, but the limbs are cloaked in Zeroth's limb fluff. The feet end in solid hooves, the tail becomes horsehair in a fox pattern, and the ears have become stubby little horse ears. The hair has also become longer as a whole, but he mostly maintained the foxy face. 
+ 
+It takes a moment, but he slowly wakes up, groaning heavily as he makes his first moves as a new being. "Urgh... my aching head.."
+
+He looks around at everyone. "Is... there a reason everyone is staring at me..? Is there something on my face?" 
+ 
+He reaches for his face, noticing a distinct difference in the feeling of his paw. "Wait, what the..? Why are my arms so fluffy? Why is my tail so ropey?? Are those fucking HOOVES?! AM I A HORSE?!?!"
+
+He suddenly winces in pain, both hands grasping his head. "AUGH... WAIT... It's all coming back to me now... bits and pieces... okay, okay... I get it now... this is me now... or, US, I guess..? This is so weird..." 
+ 
+Aodaghan steps forth. "It ain't much better from where we stand."
+
+All the demense masters are still here, Aodaghan helping the new guy to his feet. "Welcome back to the livin' world, Zeroth. Or do we call you Nash now?" 
+ 
+"No... new me, new name. What did Zeroth call himself when he was greeting new people at the door? Reiji? How about... Reggie. I like the sound of that."
+
+IF THEY ASK
+Caelum will look to them and simply respond, "Just like how you INFUSE the magic you weild into yor mortal weapons, I INFUSED Zeroth's magical essence into NASH's mortal form, with a small twist of humanimal transmutation."
+ 
+----- 
+ 
+IF ANYONE ASKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DIADEM 
+Conroy speaks out this time. "That depends on what the Kings of Kings decide. They won the right to claim ownership of the Diadem in that last fight, no differently than our own regalia. So now... they are our new Kings. True Kings of Kings." 
+ 
+You can almost hear the depression seeping off Akarui, but he sighs and nods. "They are right. Diadem is a giant Regalia, and you won the rights to it fair and square. This is, quite literally, your property now. So... what will you do?" 
+ 
+PITCH THE FOLLOWING 
+ 
+Get everyone off Diadem 
+ 
+Make Diadem a legit country 
+ 
+Give control to Akarui 
+
+-----
+
+SKIP TO ONE YEAR LATER
+
+We open on the Diadem movie theater, with a brand new sign being installed while people are still watching movies.
+
+Inside, your group is sitting back and rewatching the events that transpired just a year ago on the big screen, as well as everything leading up to that, in the form of a brand new movie. And this time, everything was done SO much better.
+
+Once the movie ends, the lights come on to reveal your group is not alone. All the Demense Masters INCLUDING Reggie, Akarui, the three Thunder Force commanders, Caelum, Vivid, Morana, Striker, and several others you've met from your adventure are all sitting around, watching the movie with you.
+
+- Aodaghan is pissed the fight scenes were not more entertaining
+- Conroy is pleased at the historical accuracy finally being decent
+- Zahir loved the theatrical style lighting they went with
+- Corentin is satisfied with the sound design they chose
+- Dorrin is a bit miffed his daughter didn't get more screen time
+- Arledge is gorging himself on the actual fresh popcorn like it's candy
+- Miranda is flipping through an autograph book filled with several of the actors' phone numbers
+- Whitaker and Morana are cozied up together sharing a soda with two straws
+- Fulmo is impressed by the overall morality behind the story
+- Thanatos sheds a tear with the phenomenal and well-earned ending
+- Cassius is asleep in his chair while Striker laments Cassius didn't get more screen time
+- Cliff is sitting on the ground, applauding like a toddler seeing jingling keys for the first time
+
+Reggie stands up first and stretches wide, cracking his back. "Now THAT... was a pretty good movie. What do you think, Akarui?"
+
+Akarui pouts a bit, sighing as he sinks into his seat a bit. "Did they really have to use a pigeon for my role?" That comment makes Reggie wince a bit.
+
+Everyone slowly piles out of the theater together, commenting on the movie as you all head toward the center of the island. And there have been a few significant changes. Firstly, the island being revealed as a giant crown and having giant magic gems has turned it into a colossal tourist attraction people can actually enter and exit freely.
+
+The trash zone, largely taking up way too much space, was adjusted a bit to allow room for a genuine airport in Diadem, including a helicopter pad close by. So now, the population of Diadem can freely come and go whenever they wish, as long as they are willing to pay for a basic flight.
+
+On the subject of money, turns out Jerras was correct about the value of their currency. Since the coins can only be replicated by their people and only at a small number at a time, the value of the coin was immediately regarded as extremely valuable. So now, a single coin would set up people in essentially any corner of the planet for a long while. The people of Diadem are essentially rich, by global standards.
+
+-----
+
+(IF THEY DIDNT TAKE KING ROLE)
+Akarui resumed his position as King, but since his secretary is currently MIA (not that it's a huge secret), he decided to hire Levi as part of his parole.
+
+(IF THEY TOOK KING ROLE)
+Akarui is actually okay with not being the King anymore, and is content with being the King's aide now. He and Nash worked close together enough to where he picked up the job pretty easily. And as part of his parole, Levi is now working right beside him as a trainee.
+
+*EITHER WAY*
+Anais was thrown in prison for a few months as she did, in fact, conspire against the city to overthrow the current leadership in the island, but was released when Levi proposed she be given the same kind of leniency and parole he received, since he did SO MUCH WORSE THAN HER. That was the moment that actually started the repair of their family.
+
+-----
+
+While Fulmo was more than willing to pardon Harken's overall minor crimes of petty vandalism under the guise of stemming a much larger and more devastating end result, Harken still felt guilty of putting the people at risk in any regard. Turns out he, Akarui, and Fulmo had cooked up the stemming plan to keep the Marauders overall under control the entire time, which is why he never seemed too concerned about the mole. Plus, Akarui had the paperwork pre-prepared to back it up.
+
+Fulmo ruled to actually let the people weigh in on Harken's case in his courtroom, and they overwhelmingly ruled he should be forgiven. The biggest surprise was when Dorrin himself walked up and forgave Harken personally.
+
+He was then promoted to first commander of the Thunder Force, putting Jensen to second and Valeos to third. Now they rotate between the branch and main offices regularly instead of staying stagnant in one location forever, to help promote a healthier leadership rotation.
+
+-----
+
+Jerras was put in jail as well, and is still there for the moment under crimes of long-form price fixing for the nation's currency. However, now that the nation's currency is in circulation outside the island, the people realize he was actually RIGHT, and decided to reduce his sentence. He'll be released in two weeks.
+
+Not that being there ever stopped his business endeavors, of course. Striker runs the shop most days now, but Jerras pops in via Striker's shadow magic when he gets a minute to breathe.
+
+-----
+
+Vivid went home the day after everything was settled with Zeroth, and Dorrin ended up moving out. He now lives in a similar home in an underwater cavern, letting Vivid live her life as independently as she likes. But he still visits regularly.
+
+-----
+
+Caelum finally had a place to call home, and managed to patch things up with some of his family members, so much so he even invited some of them to live with him.
+
+- His brother DJ Free the fennec fox buddied up with Zahir so he didn't have to run shows entirely on his own anymore
+- The twins Nako the dragon man and Noji the human woman, became Miranda's fashion models
+- His brother Charon the cerberus ended up hanging out with Thanatos, and now he has help running ceremonies
+- His brother Helicule, whom had a camera embedded in his head, ended up working for the newspaper as a cameraman
+
+He comes from a very weird alternate reality, as it turns out.
+
+-----
+
+Zeroth is still rattling around in Reggie's head passively, enjoying his new home and experiencing all the mortal ways of living. He also showed Reggie how to use his own god tier magic, including how to borrow the powers of the demense masters. It's still a learning experience for now.
+
+As for the rest of you...
+
+(GIVE EACH ONE A FLAVORFUL END RESULT BEFORE CONTINUING)
+
+Reggie walks with your group, regaling you all with his own personal stories of what happened over the last year. "And after all that, Anais decided to break up with me."
+
+"Yeah we hooked up a few times after the meld, but after a while she realized she was only into the novelty of the 'guy willing to give her an island' moreso than the guy himself. So now I'm a free man again."
+
+Caelum will approach your group AND him. "Hey Reggie, I meant to ask... do you still want to leave the island and go somewhere else? Ya know, like the end result of your whole plan?"
+
+R: "Yeah, but it's like... Zeroth showed me every inch of the entire universe thorough his memories when we combined, so it's like... there's nothing for me to see."
+
+C: "... what if I could put you somewhere brand new to the both of you?"
+
+R: "... pardon?"
+
+C: "I hopped through a dimension hole of my own creation to get here. I can open a new one whenever I want, now that I don't have to hide."
+
+R: "Are you offering to let me go to your old stomping grounds? Cuz if you left it, I'd have to assume it was for good reason."
+
+C: "Actually, I could put you in a completely different one, a separate reality untouched by anything like what happened here OR there."
+
+R: "...nothing would make me fucking happier."
+
+C: "Well then... how about we send you off right now?"
+
+He waves his hand in the middle of the open space you're all standing in, an indigo colored gate opening surrounded by a golden ring, much like the gates to the other demense. Reggie stares at it for a moment, before turning back to your group. "Send me off... ya know what, not just yet. I got one thing I wanna do before I go, and I'd like your guys' help to do it."
+
+"I've been figuring out my abilities over the last year, and I kinda wanna test them out before I dive into a whole new reality. How about you guys and I have a sendoff fight? No stakes, no bullshit, just a chance for you guys to give me everything you got and I return the favor?"
+
+*IF YES*
+He claps his hands theatrically and takes a fighting pose. "Then let's get it started!"
+
+*AFTER THE FIGHT*
+
+He will flop onto all fours, spitting a gob of blood off to the side. "Fuck me running... I literally have the power of God on my side, and you guys still fight harder than I do!"
+
+He stands up, limping a little, but you see a soft golden glow around his body as his injuries slowly heal over and his clothes slowly repair themselves. "Got that god tier healing factor too, it seems... awesome."
+
+He walks his way over to you all, and shakes each of your hands. "Well, as shitty as our whole ordeal was, it's been a blast getting to hang out with you guys. Hopefully I'll meet people just as cool as you all on the other side."
+
+He takes a few steps away from the gateway, then turns to your group one last time with a thumbs up. "Stay gold."
+
+He then runs toward it and jumps in, pulling his limbs together before shouting CANNONBALL!
+
+And that... is how I ended up here all those years ago. Any questions?