The glass was cold to the touch, and as Kousuke did so, he felt the chill travel up his arm as the room changed. The warmth was gone, and where there had been a gathering, there stood only the reincarnated prince of Earth. And across from him, nearly twenty feet in front of him, was a man that Kousuke would not recognize. The cloak was thrown aside, the brilliant white eyes glowing, and there stood an armoured skeleton, clad in battle armour that stood in a mockery of Endymion's own. In this monstrosity's hands was a seemingly rusted broadsword, and yet... It was still functional, possibly held together by the malignance of this creature.

The world around them seemed barren, with no life, no warmth, and no cheer to be found. And yet if Kousuke looked up, he would see a thin barrier of darkness, but beyond it a brilliant sight. The open Void, the infinite vastness of space itself.

"I must commend your initiative." His voice was unearthly, resonating from the dead planet around them, icy cold, and barren. "I expected them to tend to that vessel, and be ensnared by his Nihilism, and the Chaos Dragon. His precious Void is not here to save him, and there is nothing here to save you. I shall slay you, and take the Golden Crystal. It's radiance shall lead me to the Silver, and I will have it all." The armoured corpse took a two handed grip on the blade in hand, and if Kousuke were to scan his surroundings, the sight of a hilt and crossguard would be easily seen a few feet away. A strange sensation, of having used this sword in the past, of it belonging in his hands. The blade was entwined in rose stems, and the bloomed around the crossguard. They were black as night, and by removing the sword, he would pull out their roots.

In the real world, Amarissa and Kousuke's bodies would fall limp to the ground.

As Kousuke appeared in the mirror world he appeared about an inch and a half taller than his physical form. He wore a green silk shirt, a brown leather jerkin and over top of it fitted and sleek golden armor that seemed to easy to move easy to move in despite the metal. He seemed to have a great strength greater than the peak of his actual power due to his own desires and perception having solidified his self image.

However in addition to this Kousuke noticeably showed up alone. His mind conjured him no companion to fight beside him and the knight stood his ground as he always did mentally, alone. The impression and images of other people faces of those he knew seemed to reflect in his armor strengthening it and him and adding power to the boy, and if one paid close attention they would notice how much the armor must weigh. For someone who tried to carry the burden of all those he cared for alone, there was no way his load would be light, especially not for one who's responsibility was the planet on which he and his loved ones lived.

Despite this the warrior of Earth stood confidently and undaunted firm in his conviction that he could carry the weight and more without falling or breaking. The world behind him seemed to fade into darkness and at the same time light exploded from the knight causing him to illuminate everything around him a single burning light among the darkness and behind him, one more, the pale glow of the moon reassuring him and reflecting the light he shed to reinforce the lonely soldier.

He looked at the masked man with calm eyes and a smile on his face, not a hint of fear of doubt to be seen. "I am a knight, I am not the person who needs to be saved." He says calmly as he takes a step towards the skeleton. "I am a torch, a beacon of hope, and most importantly one who defends that which illuminates the darkness for all."

"You who hide in the shadows and eat away at the hearts of men, you who are a burden who refuses to be set down, you have no right to mock a good man who was twisted by circumstance. Nor do you have a right to snuff out the light." He declares in a resonating tone as he takes another step touches the top of the hilt and flows power into it, not picking it up but instead turning the roses to a lush red and allowing grass and life to begin to spread in this land.

Life began to spread from the blade, and wound it had rent in the land seemed to heal. The Dolorous blow to kingdom and king was purged by strength of resolve,but also of forgiveness. The corruption was arrested and healed, until the dividing line stood at an equidistant point between the two. The Death Phantom growled. "What do you know of souls, Stone Prince. You are his rival, the Earth that stole his Queen from him." The Corpse stood sentinel, waiting for this reborn Princeling to make the first step.

"False or True, you will die, Knight. He is the Stone Rival. And I gave him life! He has no purpose but to do as I demand." The Skeletal Being walked forwards slowly, corruption radiating from him. "This is Nemesis! This is the home of his forbears, and the place he is destined to hide from the light within. You will not countenance his Empire, and so he will flee to me. And I will begin the cycle anew." A terrible laugh, before it suddenly exploded into motion, going into a horizontal slash.

And yet the sword changed. In Kousuke's mind, a voice he knew as being the Moon Knight's and yet it was free of that pain. Can you take up his sword... My forebear... Can you heal them in my stead... At Kousuke's feet, there was stone all around it, and a placid lake, as the Death Phantom was suddenly repelled by a silver barrier.

The black and white flames formed in front of Kousuke, before the man walking outof them was familiar, yet... Younger. In his prime. The Lorekeeper smiled to the Prince of Earth. "If he takes mockery of Endymion's form... Perhaps you can bear a different Kingship, no?" His eyes seemed so full of life. Even as he looked near death. "I do not have much time. I only exist as a brief fragment of potential. Take up his sword... So that I might know even if I die... His hand lives on." The sword was simpler, of Roman make. On one side, was writ "Take me Up." And on the other, "Cast me away."

"I think I looked inwards, when a worthy candidate stood before me. I might look good with a beard, neh?" A faintly humorous smile, his robes that of black and white flame. "Can you carry the hopes of Brittania with you, Kousuke?" He was fading. "A final gift wilt be the summoning of your queen. She must fight alongside you, so that your rules are as one, not as an appendix to the others. Buy time, and she will fight alongside you, Prince of Earth." The Silver shield cracked as Death Phantom's blows struck it, and the corruption around him seemed to emenate, but conflict with the Life that Kousuke sent forth.

"Stone Prince..." Kousuke says with a smile. It was good, he liked the title for he would be a fortress for those who needed it and a solid hold for those who stumbled on this journey against the dark. "You are right, I know very little about souls. I do know that they are their own, and they decide who they are. I do not know why you keep insisting that I am the one who did these things, I am me, not Endymion I will live, and someday die as me, but until then I will carry the light!" He says as he watches the corrupt sword slam against the silver shield.

Kaguya and Leo's worlds flow into his mind as the skeleton says that this is his world and Kousuke's eyes harden. "You are this worlds guardian, you have abused your charge and have not maintained or defended it. He would be a better guardian than you could be." He announces as he sees the new figure appear. "If one comes here to hide in the darkness then I will bring the light to guide them and back and give them a chance."

Kousuke lifts the new sword, the significant sword that Kousuke did not even know the name of. "I will heal all I can. I will carry this purpose if you are not able to until you are again ready to bear it." He assures the figure that appears. with a confident smile. As he raises the sword Peter's face appears on the golden armor and the weight increased as Kousuke picked up another's burden.

"Leave it to me and I will carry your hopes as well." He steps forward and clashes swords with the man death that stands before him life, confidence and profound purpose eminenating and fueling the golden knight, the stone prince.

Amarissa's eyes opened to a strange place, the plane of mirrors reflecting everything and nothing all at once. She found herself dressed as the Moon Princess, an elegant medieval style white dress bound in a silver and blue corset. The skirt was split on one side, revealing white lace-up boots. Long elegant sleeves draped her arms, her hair was down but styled wavy tresses and a delicate silver tiara with a blue sapphire moon rested on top. She carried with her an ornate bow and matching quiver that glowed with a pure white light. The embodiment of the Moon, shining with a pure light that reflected the Earth Knight's own as she stood quietly behind him.

She watched the proceedings without a word, a calmness in the storm of chaos. This was not her fight, and yet at the same time it was her charge to aid the Earth prince in saving the Dragon from himself, in all his endeavors really for he carried the burden of all their hopes. "You do not stand alone, my prince. I have always been here, sharing my light with you and giving you reason to carry on," she said, her voice gently echoing.

As the battle finally commences, Amarissa raises her bow and takes careful aim. Her first arrow lands, as planned, point first beneath their feet. A pure light emanates from it, lighting the area and both combatants. The second she aims at the death knight, the silver arrow reflecting the light of Moon and the hope of Earth.

“I pass this burden, and this curse, because I am not long for this world...” He smiled sadly. “I hope you can forgive me. And Artemis...” He stared to her, a sad smile on his face. “Guard his heart well. I need to face judgement now... And I believe Brittania is in good hands... My father's work...” He was fading, and then he simply disintegrated into black and white rose petals, before they seemed to melt, leaving a morass of fluid behind, lost potential, lost hope.

Death Phantom's blade was shorn clean through at the blow from the sword of Brittania's kings. The Creature of evil hissed, trying to jump back only to be caught in the side with an arrow's flight. “You... Stupid... Ignorant... Humans... Throwing my carefully constructed timeline... Into chaos... And disarray.” He growled. “I was to be reborn in his flesh anew...”

He staggered back, black blood dripping from his side, despite his skeletal visage. “How is this happening... I am the Death Phantom...” Exhaling, his form changed, transmogrifying to take on the aspect of a great Scorpion. Yet it wore the face of a man, one that was unknown to either of them. “I shall feast on your corpses!”

The battlefield changed, becoming a vast desert, the beating sun overhead, the sand placid on the windless, hot day. But off in the distance, they could see a plateau... A tree... Three figures, and a flashing of light. There was combat there as well...

The Girtabulu charged, great pincers coming for them both, tail swooping down on Kousuke. “Die, and let the cycle begin anew!”

Kousuke nods at the man as he fades away. Weather a curse or a blessing he would preserve. Hope always remains even in the bleakest circumstance, for when hope dies all is lost. He continues to step forward even as the phantom chants its maddened curse. Even as the field turns to waste and desert the Knight continues forward.

"I do not fear you, I do not acknowledge you, you are but parasite who wishes to bring despair." He decrees trudging forward and continuing on. The armor was heavy but despite its weight it also gave strength and protection. Because when someone is needed, when someone carries a burden all other concerns slowly fade while trying to fulfill it.

And the hopes of many protects the image one creates of heroism. Kousuke leaps into the air a feat that seems almost impossible given the weight of his armor, but even so he gracefully leaps towards the scropion, neither running nor hesitating, and while bearing the sword he swings it at the scorpion's tail. as it comes for him.

The Moon senshi nodded sagely as she accepted his request. If this curse he was passing to Kousuke was anything like the one she'd seen in her fellow knight, his heart would certainly need protecting from it. She didn't know why, but Amarissa found herself whispering a prayer in a strange language as his form faded, her head bowed and her hands clenched on her chest.

The death knight's words brought her from her reverie and she allowed a small smile as their combined attacks seemed to have an affect. Then everything changed, including their enemy. She gasped as he reformed into a giant scorpion. Seeing Kousuke charge in, her resolve hardens and she takes up her bow anew. "You are nothing in the face of Hope and Devotion," she said, aiming her arrow for the face of the creature.

“I need neither be feared, nor acknowledged, to kill. I need neither be seen, nor heard to kill. I am Death. I am the end of everything you hold dear... Your friends have killed the Chaos Dragon... And now... Now I am alone. The Death of Empires is beaten, fleeing into the darkness beyond...”

He took the arrow into his face, roaring, yet, as the sword slices his tail clean off, his movements feel... Co-ordinated. He staggered backwards, his bulk dragging on the ground. He tried to lift himself, listing towards them, at fourty five degrees. “My body refuses my commands... How is this...” He missed, wide. He slid backwards, fourty five in the opposite direction, before surging forwards. And then his bloodloss finally became too much, as he closed his eyes. “Damn you both... To hell... Sae...Tos...”

And then there was a pop, as a portal opened, beyond a starry void.

And a whining noise began. The light above them growing almost painfully bright. And the sound of rushing air, as the corpse of the Scorpion faded. And in it's place, now filled in with glowing, iridescent... Feathers? Was a single symbol. Created by the malfunctioning limping of the beast in it's final throes...?

Ʃ

As the light show dies down Kousuke looks around in puzzlement. "Huh. Well, when in doubt always move forward." Kishin says with a smile and then proceeds through the portal that had appeared.

Amarissa allowed a small smile to grace her face as the creature was finally defeated. It was short lived, though, as she had to shield her eyes for a moment in the bright light. When it had somewhat faded, she could see the symbol left behind and moved forward a bit to examine it, puzzled. She searched briefly in her quiver and found a piece of parchment and a chunk of old charcoal, shaped like a pencil. As fast as she could she made a drawing of the symbol, being careful to capture the details for later study. The Moon senshi then rolled the parchment up, stuffing it back in her quiver, and hurried through the portal after her knight.

As both Kousuke and Amarissa walk to the portal, Kaguya walks out of it, and then closes behind her. "......Lets kick Peter's other selves so we can wring his neck in real life. I just had to deal with the freaking personification of death and decay " said Kaguya as she was somewhat annoyed with everything going on. She was tired of them getting one step and then going 100 steps back. Would they not be able to get a strong foothold and keep going. Then she feels something odd and looks to the feathers "I don't think we are alone here. Get ready for the next boss fight......Whats next Nightmare from Soul Calibur" she said sarcasticly.

A faintly amused chuckle seemed to be heard in the air, as there was a whining noise filling it. And then the feathers all detonated at once. The light-show was only a prelude to what came next however. Kaguya could... Feel. Something, on the edge of her senses. And it was rocketing towards them at an incredibly high speed. It was aimed at the three of them, directly in the center. But most importantly, it had a sensible shape to her. Cylindrical, hemispherical on the ends, and extending to the edge of her perception, and continuing.

A rather thick... LASER!

She had roughly six seconds before impact. Most importantly, the scenery was shifting, the glow of the desert sun seemingly fading, turning to desert night.

Amarissa would feel something strange. The previous entity had been obviously Chaos Tainted to her senses... This... Actually felt quite like Peter's own impression, only without the biting, clawing sensation of the Chaos Taint.

As the laser approaches the group Kousuke falls into and then with Amarissa, pulling both of them away from the attack. He stops and lands back on the ground then shakes his head. "Well I suppose the scorpion was a bit anti-climatic" he admits and steps forward.

"Alright, come on out!" He calls, without a hint of fear or worry, they were the heroes, they were invincible, they had to be. The golden armor pulses with power and the sword excalibur is raised into a ready position.

"Let's have a good time." He calls out with a smile on his face.