#Also this is mostly in third person (save Scramblesprite's first person naritive) cause over the past week we just hashed the rest of

[knowingoverseer]

> Final Countdown

⇒ STRIFE

“SCARED?!” Engl1sh clenches her fist, the ground below crumbling. “Y0U TH1NK TH1S WHAT SCARED L00KS L1KE? 1’LL SH0W Y0U WHAT SCARED REALLY 1S.”

“hear that calvara? were gonna get to see jUst how scared she can get! ha!” Calvara quips while fleeing the stage floor, into the air. Really, rude, interrupting while a Lady is talking. So rude.

Very, very rude. Engl1sh is steaming.

“A P00R CH01CE 1N F1NAL W0RDS, BUT 1’VE HEARD W0RSE.” Her rainbow aura flares to life, as she inhales deeply, preparing to simply obliterate this whole reality. Both Space-Time clones stood - well, floated - their ground, ready to face whatever came next. “final words? lady blowhard, we cant close the show like that! yoU havent even opened yoUr bonUs prize! which, by the way, yoU hardly earned!” Calvara called out, still managing to pout despite their serious gaze.

For the first time, Engl1sh notices the, now large, white box in her possession. It doesn’t concern her much, as she readies to exhale. She made sure to hold it in extra long so it would be an even more powerful Technicolor Fire Breath attack.

“well, i mean its yoUre loss,” The box ribbons untie themselves as the lid tumbles up and over. A red blur streaking it’s way right toward Lady Engl1sh’s face- more specifically her lower jaw. “were a great prize, and a far better show stopper than yoU!” The near final Calvara, using the hilt of the weapon they’d long since made for this fight, smashed Engl1sh’s jaws together and forcing her head up.

The blast explodes in her throat, destroying her head and killing her forever… Or, not really. Lady Engl1sh, not privy on killing herself with her own attack, erases the moment when the blast is fired, nullifying it. That was close.Then she grabs Calvara, growling before attempting to crush them in her hand. All the while, they’re laughing. Suddenly that weird scene they’d witnessed countless times before suddenly made sense, and there was just so much humor in potentially having beat the beast that easily. Or the fact their own life might have also been saved. They really don’t know what would have happened down that road. What they do know is what’s happening now. Calvara after Calvara starts bolting onto the stage from the stands, all brandishing the same weapon, though some had the Cosmic Deringer or another blade at their disposal as well. It was a sword with a red hue and a weirdly curved blade, with a tip reminiscent of a snake tongue. A little more than two dozen Calvara surge forward, taking her on at once. A laughable effort, probably. Until she might feel the sting of their blades. Oddly, many more seemed to still be in the stand.

Engl1sh slaps a few of them out of the air, still clutching one in her hand. It’s some real King Kong shit. She’s starting to laugh a bit herself, grinning down at the Calvara in her hands, not quite killing them just yet. She holds them up close to her face.

“d0 y0u see 1t? h0w fut1le 1t 1s t0 f1ght me?”

With a flap of her now massive wings, she creates a huge amount of wind, making it difficult to reach her by flying. Not to mention all the debris suddenly unaffected by gravity.

“th1s un1verse 1s dy1ng. and 1’ll make sure y0u’re 1n 1t when that happens~” She laughs right in Calvara’s relatively tiny face. “d0 y0u n0w understand y0ur 1ns1gn1f1cance? y0u can create a gamesh0w, wh1le 1 can pull un1verses apart at the seams! t0 c0mpare me t0 y0u 1s l1ke c0mpar1ng the sun to a hand crank. the p0wer fantasy 1s 0ver, y0u d1e n0w.” All the while, Calvara, let’s call them Calvara Beta, has been laughing right along with her. True, it was kind of hard when she’s crushing them in her hand, but their armor did provide at least some protection and man. This whole situation was kind of hilarious. Or they damn sure were going to make it seem that way. The laughter died down to a consistent giggle while Engl1sh was monologuing to their face, but that didn’t shut them up for long. “the- the sUn to a hand crank? eh? is that why yoU keep cranking oUt all these stUpid ‘all powerfUl’ lines? yo-yoUre doing that thing, the villain thing, yoU know where yoU jUst keep talking and talking and- hey are we still on camera caUse this is honestly comedy gold right now~” Of course the wind doesn’t defurl the swarm of Calvara, they just need to move around in a much more complicated fashion. Green flashes of light surround Engl1sh as she continues on, though the effort still seems in vain. Calvara and Calvara soon take to the fight as well, however their mission is to attempt to free Calvara Beta. Something Calvara jumps head first into, going for Engl1sh’s wrist with the saber.

The sudden, if minute, pain on the arm holding Calvara Beta gets Engl1sh’s attention, and she rotates the arm around to look for its source. Ah, of course. She swats the annoyance on her arm, then sighs in relief that she’s finally rid of that particular iteration of them. A puff of green and red glitter remains in the space-time clone’s wake.

“n0w, where was 1? 0h r1ght, mak1ng y0u suffer~”

She squeezes tight, still holding off on killing them just yet. The other Calvaras are mostly ignored, as one ignores an irritating buzzing noise, but she does try to keep them away from her necklace. Which is, unfortunately for Engl1sh, a very common place for them to attempt swiping at. Other places that were common were the base of her wings and anywhere around the back of her head. They weren’t aiming to be in line of attacks, and going ignored was just fine for them. Little bits of damage at a time was the payoff to that. All the while Calvara Beta proved to be a good enough distraction, even if it was getting to the point it was too hard to breathe to laugh. Calvara, not unhurt by the loss of their partner, however keeps up an attack on the front. Casting bolts of magic from a distance, they try to get close, wanting to try and use the crowbar to pry Lady Engl1sh’s hand open.

Engl1sh sighs. The other one...

“1 never d0 t1re 0f k1ll1ng y0u, s0 please, by all means.”

Calvara proves to be a more slippery target, and weaves right past Engl1sh’s free hand. In frustration, the gigantic cherub attempts to grab them as well. It’s not hard to keep dodging, between their spritely evasiveness and space powers dodging was simple. Unfortunately the wand’s magic hardly seem to do more than cause her minor irritation. It was time to start switching tactics. Rather than fully attempt to pry against her hand, they would rap the crowbar against closed knuckles and zap around the small space in front of Engl1sh. Like trying to bat at a fly flying right in front of your face. Calvara tries, of course, to be strategic about their placement but ultimately are just doing their best to dodge.

The crowbar sends a shockwave through her skin every time it hits. It seemed to call out to her, longing to nestle itself in that magic necklace of hers. Whatever powerful brand of anti-magic went into creating that damned juju craved the cessation of other magical objects, and Engl1sh could feel it. She felt it from all the swords the many pests attacked her with, and recognized the feeling from way back then, with Dirk… When he cut out her eye with the very same blade. It filled her with more rage than any transgression before now.

The symbol of Time-Space flashes in her eyes as she suddenly snatches Calvara out of the air with expert precision. Wasting no time, she crushes the sprite in her hands, but not before they stab their weapon into her hand. She feels it again… Her grip loosens somewhat on Calvara Beta as a sudden jolt of fear runs up her spine. It doesn’t last long. Calvara Beta of course uses this opportunity to try and struggle free from Engl1sh’s grasp, or at the very least dig their blad into her hand enough to get it loser. Suddenly the phrase ‘give ‘em an inch’ comes to mind and with what wiggle room they had force themself to shrink as fast as they could and teleport to a safer distance. Unfortunately the sight of Calvara popping like a glitter filled balloon was not one that was lost on them. Jesus fuck that imagery was going to last a while… Calvara had to hand it to their space-time clones, neither one of them screamed. Now it was all on the real deal, and Calvara Beta had some fighting to lead. It only takes them moments to reorient themself, and grow back to normal size, before they’re coming back at Engl1sh sword swung. Over in the stands, Calvara Prime is itching to get in on the action, especially after seeing the show hosts just…. But no, they knew what they had to wait for. It was just. Horrible standing there doing nothing. Nothing yet anyway. The final Calvara, we’ll call them Calvara Alpha, finally returns to the stands though they don’t yet appear to want to do anything. Or feel they should, yet.

Engl1sh notes the sudden lack of Calvara Beta in her hand and looks around to find them. The natural laws, meanwhile, begin to go crazy as time unwinds itself. The carefully woven fabric of reality, being pulled apart by the might of Engl1sh’s Time-Space powers. Time ceases normal function, causing a massive desynchronization with other the time of other universes. Gravity is working in reverse, the planet beneath splitting apart.

Engl1sh doesn’t have to wait much longer before the whole thing collapses.

Meanwhile, I approach Calvara Alpha. The time has come, exactly as I have seen it, and as they have seen it so many times now. As the most of excellent of hosts, it would be remiss of me to not carry out the request they had given me.

“It is time to go, Calvara.” Through the collapse of Space-Time many of the Calvara were making their trips back through time to the beginning of Calvara’s existence. This was Calvara Prime’s cue to rush the Space Clones at Engl1sh before jumping back themselves. The space clones weren't as powerful, nor did they have the proper weapon, but they were expendable, practically living glitter bombs, and made for a great distraction. A distraction from Calvara Beta who was throwing their all into getting at that necklace at present. A distraction from Calvara Alpha who is heeding my word. It’s time to go. It’s time to give this fight the last of what they have, all at once. There’s no doubling back after this, if they hadn't already seen their fate they’d lack the energy to complete another time loop, there isn’t anymore holding back. Engl1sh notes just how many of them of them there were, with contempt. They’re easy, poofing when smacked out of the sky. The ones that stayed intact are real ones, rather than clones. With a roar, she reinstates gravity, and far more intense, trying to pull them all to the ground, for easy stepping. Meanwhile, I try to find Beta in the rain of Calvaras. In the stands, Calvara Prime tries their best to combat the gravity increase with their own spacial powers, but it’s only enough to keep a few Calvara in the air. The real Calvaras getting grounded loop back before Engl1sh could do much else, many sporting new cuts and bruises from being swat out of the air. The space clones, however, still created as much movement as they could. It wasn’t the most dignified distraction, but every bit counts. Calvara Beta is one of the few still in the air, though the movement was far more restricted. More of a glide than truely being able to fly around. But added with teleportation they were still giving it one hell of a shot. Still, as seconds pass time and space were getting more and more corrupt. Prime, frustrated, loses strength to hold Gravity off not long after they started to try, grounding them all. Beta, and what was left of the Space clones. They needed to go back and get healed from Floretta, even if it was just energy they needed. They too loop back, starting the chain. At which point only two real Calvara remain.

I fly over to the one I know to be Beta, the intense gravity being nothing for a First Guardian. They seem to want to keep fighting. But it is not the time for that yet. I put a hand on their shoulder.

“This part is not your battle. It is theirs.” I point to Alpha. “Go back, get healed, like all the others. You will need your strength for when you are them. You can not help them except by having the strength to go back and be them.” My grip tightens slightly. “This is the last time, from my perspective, that I will talk to you. Good luck.” “w-what? no? im not sUpposed to go yet- last time?” Beta is struggling to get back on their feet, though it appears my presence helps. They follow his point to the one Calvara left in the stand, energy gathering around them, but it isn’t quite enough to convince them to leave. “It will be easier for you later if you do not stay now. Please just go.”

Engl1sh looked at Alpha, who was headed straight for her while all the others looped back. Her eyes flashed the symbol of Time, and she saw the paths they were taking. Right to the beginning, joining the crowd. Interesting… But Alpha stayed in the present. No more loops. Engl1sh smiled, intrigued. So this one would fight her head on, hmm? Once more her rainbow aura flared, enveloping the whole planet in its glow as the sun in the sky gradually faded.

Alpha was resolute, having already prepared themselves for this moment. They’d watched it happen already. Their own aura sparked to life, gold and strong, with tinges of red or green sometimes crackling on the ends. Their hand wrapped tight around the grip of their sword.

This was it. “im not leaving yet! i know what the plan was sUpposd to be- i have to stay theyre the only one after me and im not leaving me by myself in this fight!”

“Please, I really must insist you go. I physically can not force you, but it really is for the best if you just leave…” Stressed out, Beta shrugged away my words, but remained fixated on the sight before them. Not just Calvara’s final entrance, but Lady Engl1sh setting the world on technicolor fire, it would hurt their eyes if not for the shades. Still it was hard to ignore the golden fusion making a beeline for the cherub. Alpha wasted no time to get to Engl1sh, and this time called out a spell when swinging their blade. She might be immune to magic, but this was mostly for the extra kick. “yoU know i always knew id go oUt with a bang bUt this light show yoUve got going is perfect, let me help add to this- COSMIC RADIANCE!” They didn’t just aim for her necklace, that swipe was aimed toward most of her lower face and upper torso in one arc swing. Without hitting the Juju it does nothing for their goal except to hurt Engl1sh.

Engl1sh flew upwards, surprisingly agile despite her large size. The slash was mostly blocked by arm, which seemingly healed itself in a flesh of red and green. But Alpha would not be deterred. They pulled Time to Kill from Davara’s strife specibus. The symbol on their armor lit up as they activated a freymotif, the clock on Time to Kill spinning as it split into twelve swords, and those swords then increasing in size by way of Space powers. Controlling them with telekinesis, Alpha attacked Engl1sh from multiple angles with the swords.

Engl1sh was quick on her feet, repelling most away with a gravity field and pulling another towards her to use as her own weapon. She swung the oversized sword at Alpha, but they quickly returned Time to Kill to just one blade, captchaloguing it away once more.

Alpha dodged and weaved in and out of Engl1sh’s reach as she tried to grab them, throwing pot shots with telekinetically lifted rocks, looking for an opening to reach the necklace. Unfortunately, there was never a chance to get close enough… But suddenly Alpha had a reckless idea.

They decaptchalogue the sword created using the Chubby Bunny wands, affectionately dubbed “The Killer Bunny”, and fly towards Engl1sh, swinging in a wide arc like before. This time, however, when Engl1sh tries to block, the incredibly volatile and powerful sword cleaves right through her arm. She’s caught off guard, dropping her defense as she hollers in a mixture of pain and anger.

Alpha lets the Killer Bunny drop out of their hand as they flash step forward, accelerating themself with Space powers, gripping the blade of their crowbar sword tight, clearing their mind to focus entirely on one goal.

Engl1sh, in a final act of desperation, unleashes a hasty rainbow fire breath attack downwards, on perfect course to hit Alpha. I tighten my grip on Beta’s shoulder again and teleport the two of us off the planet, just outside the atmosphere.

Though their eyes briefly glance upwards to see the beam of pure death headed towards them, Alpha does not waver, tossing the crowbar sword and guiding it with telekinesis. They’re ready for what comes next. “hey engl1sh, what do yoU get when yoU remove the stolen power soUrce from an arrogant megalomaniac?”