#the fact that I already have seven chapters completed for that sucker is pretty awesome honestly.

[crossroadsdimension]

World Collision -- Chapter 20

Boy, this has come a long way. Two chapters remain to be posted...I’ll probably have them up before the end of June.

Here we go.

Final Assault

Myra was shaken awake some hours later by a gentle hand. She opened her eyes and looked up from where she was leaning against the cave-like metal wall.

Flare-Up was standing over her, with an expression on her face that looked nothing like the grim determination she’d had every time Myra had seen her before. She seemed sad, which startled Myra into wakefulness.

She didn’t think that Flare-Up could even look sad anymore.

“Get up,” Flare-Up said quietly. “We’re moving now.”

Myra yawned and pulled herself up to her feet, leaning against the wall.

Flare-Up’s expression hardened into the familiar, severe seriousness that she’d had when Myra had first seen her fully aware of her surroundings. “The others are waiting by the barrier leading into the Dark City. We’ve got one shot, and then the Time Barriers won’t let anyone cross. Not even World Jumpers.”

“They can do that?” Myra asked nervously.

“Unfortunately. When time and space as we know it are tearing themselves apart, they get to be even more powerful than even a World Jumper can handle. So watch your step when we go through this time.”

Myra gulped and nodded.

Flare-Up nodded in response, then stepped out of the room. Myra followed after her, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and feeling more alert now than she did when she’d wandered the streets of the Dark City alone.

The Time Barrier between the Cyber Zone and the Dark City Zone was connected – somehow – to the barrier that separated them from the Dungeon Zone.

Myra thought she saw the Time Barrier leading into the Dungeon Zone move towards them an inch, causing her to jump back a little. Flare-Up saw her move and nodded slightly before moving towards the other barrier.

“Do you all know what you’re doing?” Flare-Up asked. “It’s going to become extremely dangerous when we step through and start, especially if we put what we planned into motion in order to spread their sources thin.”

“We’ve got it.” Nightwing gave a thumbs-up.

“You talked to Batman?”

“I did. I’ll leave it up to him what he does, but I don’t think that he’s going to be able to stay out of things and watch the rest of us scramble around for much longer.” Nightwing looked up at the dark sky. “I know where the Watchtower is, at least. It won’t be hard for them to drop down and join us.”

“Batman’s coming down?” Myra asked in amazement.

“Maybe. We’ll have to see what he decides to do. In the meantime, we’ve got other things to worry about.” Nightwing looked over at the barrier, which was turning an almost deep purple. “The Time Barrier doesn’t look like it’s going to let us cross.”

“Leave that to me.” Flare-Up cracked her knuckles, then motioned for Seeker to join her at the Time Barrier. “We’re going to need to make a hole.”

“Got it.” Seeker grinned. He stood next to Flare-Up. “Ready when you are, little sis.”

Flare-Up’s expression soured, but she said nothing as she held her hands up against the slowly-turning-purple barrier in front of them. Seeker mimicked her movements.

Something bright blue-white pulsed from their hands; Myra stiffened in surprise at the sight of it, but her expression quickly turned to awe as the color of the barrier changed from purple to bright pink as it became more translucent.

“GO!” Flare-Up yelled.

Nightwing and the rest of their eclectic group did not need to be told twice. They bolted for the barrier and passed through it with relative ease before splitting in different directions on the streets that made of the dark, foreboding city in the center of the collided worlds.

“Myra!” Flare-Up motioned with her head.

Myra shook herself out of her awe at the light show and dove through the barrier. She felt almost no push against her at all, which surprised her enough that she went into a roll on the street before she managed to scramble to her feet.

She looked back just as Seeker and Flare-Up scrambled through themselves, only for the Time Barrier to go from transparent to pink to purple in a fast cascade of colors.

Flare-Up took in a breath, then forced her shoulders to relax. “All right. We’re essentially trapped here until the universe collapses or I set off the Continuum Shift, whichever comes first. I have some unfinished business to attend to before then, so let’s hope space holds on until I have a chance to confront the people I need to.”

“Seeker, we have to move.” Nightwing – the only person left behind from when the others scattered – stepped forward and clapped a hand on Seeker’s shoulder. “The others are already starting to move. You ready for this?”

Seeker hesitated, then nodded a little. “Yeah.” He looked between Flare-Up and Myra. “Good luck, both of you. You’re going to need it.”

Flare-Up nodded. “The same to you.”

Seeker remained standing for a moment, then turned and ran down the street, Nightwing falling into step next to him.

Cries started going up around the city, followed by roars and explosions. Myra could see buildings starting to be torn apart and falling to the ground.

“Come on. They’re using my name to get the attention of the people that have been MindTech’d, but it’s not going to last for long.” Flare-Up jumped up in the air, and the hoverboard on her back slipped under her feet. She held out a hand to Myra. “We have to find Airam.”

Space Break

“Wahoo! Come, Guardians! We have names from Very Naughty List to teach lesson!”

“Tch.” Pitch watched as North bounded out of the chamber, squashing elves under his feet to destroy the MindTech on them as Tooth Fairy, Sandman, the Easter Bunny, and Jack Frost followed after him. “I forgot how annoyingly jolly that man is.”

“It’s a good thing.” Kia was walking around the back portion of the ice-covered chamber. “With him back, the wonder and hope at reversing what the Dark Arms have done will hit everyone in the World Collision, regardless of the Zone they happen to be in. We’ve just helped Flare-Up and her allies much more than we could have by being there in person.”

“Hmph.” Pitch tilted his head slightly, then glided closer to where Kia was inspecting the wall. “And what exactly are you looking for?”

“Some clue as to how the Dark Arms began their conquest.” Kia stopped moving and put a hand on the ice wall, frowning. “They may have placed the center of their empire in the Dark City because it is where the worlds merged best, but that doesn’t mean that was where they began the World Collision. It should be the remnants of a dimension somewhere near here….”

Kia leaned in closer to the ice, eyes narrowing.

Pitch rolled his eyes. “Do you really expect to see something through that? Ice doesn’t make for the best—“

Kia pulled back from the ice and pulled her arms back. Cream-colored sparks of some kind of energy coated her clenched fists up to her elbows, and she threw them forward at once.

The resounding crash that followed caused the ice to crack before it fell to pieces, creating a large gap in the ice that led to another area entirely.

“The origins for their World Collision plot starts here.” Kia slipped into the gap and carefully moved sideways through the opening. Pitch followed after her, his thin form not really needing any careful maneuvering on his part.

“What? By merging my world together with theirs?” Pitch asked in a disapproving tone.

“No. By attempting to invade another dimension, but the power of their portal was too strong, and it merged the two worlds together and caused them to collapse in on each other because of the inter-dimensional strain.” Kia shook her head. “They were far too greedy for their own good.”

They came out on the other side of the ice gap, Kia stepping aside to let Pitch step through onto cold, partially melted cobblestone.

Pitch stared. “What in the name of the moon is…?”

“The remains of two dimensions, transformed into an arena they no longer use,” Kia replied. “They set another world so far off-course in its timeline with their arrival that this is all that’s left.” She motioned to the large, circular stone arena, with ice covering the circular center, and the remains of some sort of wood-and-metal scaffolding up on one side.

A straw hat that looked like it was about to fall to pieces sat on the ice.

“It won’t come back when Flare-Up fixes the dimensions, but there might be people out there who still remember this place.” Kia sighed. “Losing one dimension is bad enough, but losing even these…” She shook her head.

Pitch wasn’t one for emotional support. As it was, his gaze went over the melted stone and the remains of something that covered the stones in some places. “Eh. If there is anyone out there, at least they’re not stuck in this mess.” He turned and went back to the hole in the ice. “Come on. Those bozos are going to need someone to watch their backs.”

Kia nodded numbly, then followed after him. There was a look in her eyes that suggested she was elsewhere.

Speed, Shifter…wherever you are, I hope you’re all right.

Space Rip

“I’d almost forgotten how quiet the streets were.” Myra looked around at the abandoned buildings they passed, recognizing some as old hiding spots back when she had been alone. “It…it doesn’t feel right now.”

“Because you’ve been with us for long enough that you’ve forgotten a little what it’s like to be alone,” Flare-Up replied. She leaned forward on the hoverboard, and they started to move even more quickly through the streets towards the large, foreboding tower that stood over everything in the Dark City. She hissed under her breath. “Come on, come on, you purple clone, where are you?”

A loud screech came from one of the nearby skyscrapers, and a blast of purple flames came shooting out from one of the windows.

“Myra!”

“Flash Fire!” Myra raised a hand, keeping the other one on Flare-Up’s shoulder in order to keep her balance. The purple fire was pulled in her direction and absorbed by her form instantly, filling Myra with more energy than she felt she knew what to do with.

“How dare you bring that one with you!” Airam shot down as the fire dissipated. The crazed look in her eyes caused Myra to flinch back a little.

“I am just leveling the playing field.” Flare-Up started to bring up her right hand, then winced and put that hand over her chest instead. Something white flashed. “Not yet! Not now!”

Myra’s eyes widened sharply. She’d seen that flash once before – when Flare-Up had been explaining her plan. Did that mean…?

Airam hovered a few feet in front of them, looking startled. “No…how do you have that power?! The masters said it was never going to happen – they made sure of it!”

Flare-Up growled as the white flash faded. “They only want you to think that.” She held out both hands, palms facing the dark gray sky. “Airam. I know what you are, and who you are. I know what you have become, and what you intend to do with the powers that were granted to you in the beginning.”

Airam’s brow furrowed in confusion, the expression mimicked by Myra.

“Flare-Up, what are you—“

“Scribe told me.” Flare-Up cut Myra off. “And now I am simply going to follow through.” She took in a breath, then started murmuring something that didn’t sound anything like English.

The white glow started up again, but it quickly changed to a dark, dark blue as tendrils of light rose from the palms of Flare-Up’s hands and reached out towards Airam.

Airam started backing up slowly, then turned and prepared to bolt, only for the tendrils to latch onto her arms suddenly and pull her back, circling up her arms. Myra lost sight of the tips under Airam’s hair.

Airam came to an abrupt halt, arched her back, and screamed to the heavens as something in the tendrils of light pulsed back towards Flare-Up.

Flare-Up cut the tendrils off, letting them dissipate and take the whatever-was-pulsing thing in them along with it.

Then she raised her Buster and fired a blast of orange energy that was as big as her head, sending Airam flying into another building.

Flare-Up lowered her Buster and almost fell forward, but managed to regain her balance. “Right. That’s taken care of.”

“Wh-what did you do?!” Myra yelped. “Where did those light-things come from?!”

“Instinct,” Flare-Up murmured in reply. She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. It probably won’t happen again.”

“Probably?! Flare-Up, what did you do?!”

Flare-Up half-turned and glared back at Myra with such a fierce gaze that it caused Myra to flinch back. “I took her ability to World Jump, okay?!”

Myra’s eyes widened sharply. “Wha—“

“Impossible!” Ariam stumbled out from the crater she’d made in the side of a building. “You can’t do that – that’s an ability that can’t be taken from—“

“Well, I just did, and I don’t know how I know,” Flare-Up replied shortly. She pointed the Buster at Airam again. “We need to get inside the tower. Now.”

Airam held up her hands, but the movement was slow. There was something in her eyes that seemed to say she was more tired. “You know there’s only one way in for people like you. If you want to get in, grab a cart and take the Trials.”

Myra stiffened, her grip tightening on Flare-Up’s armor. “No…” She gulped loudly.

Airam cackled. “Oh, it seems your friend already knows what coming! Did you try them and get caught?”

“I heard rumors, nothing else!” Myra yelped. “I never went near that place, and for good reason!”

“Well, you’re going there now! You want to see my masters and put an end to them, you’re going to have to march yourself right up there and into their hands.” Airam looked at her hands, as though there were fingernails on the tips of her white-gloved fingers. “Of course, since your friends have all managed to draw out their expendable minions, that just leaves the ones they’ve always had with them.” She looked over slyly. “Are you sure you want to face up against them? Hmm?”

Myra made a nervous noise and shook her head quickly as Flare-Up’s shoulders stiffened at Airam’s words.

Airam cackled again. “I’d like to see you try, but seeing as I’ve failed, the masters probably won’t let me see. The least I could do is get you your ride.” She grinned a little too widely for a normal human face. “So?”

Flare-Up said nothing. Myra looked between the two of them, her nervous energy starting to act up and cause purple sparks to fly from her shoulders.

“Myra, steel yourself,” Flare-Up said crisply. “Do it.”

Airam threw back her head and howled with laughter. “With pleasure!” She made a great, waving arc with one hand, sending sparks of purple flames into the sky, lighting up the surrounding area with strange runes that exploded into nothingness. “Expect your ride in a matter of minutes. I am going to make myself scarce. Loyal to the masters I may be, but I do not intend to die before you do.”

With that, Airam moved back into the shadows between buildings and disappeared from sight.

Myra gulped loudly again as Flare-Up’s hoverboard disappeared from under their feet, dropping her and Flare-Up to the ground. “Wh-what have you done?”

“What needed to be done.” Flare-Up rolled her shoulders as Myra’s hands slipped off them. “According to what you know, the Trials are simply a series of challenges, correct?”

Myra nodded quickly. “Th-that’s what I heard, yeah…but are you sure we’d be able to handle it without getting caught?”

“I’m certain.” Flare-Up looked at Myra. “The Continuum Shift won’t let us fail. Not now.”

Myra blinked, then looked down at Flare-Up’s chest and sucked in a breath when she saw the small, pulsing white light that seemed to come from somewhere under the other World Jumper’s armor. She looked back up at Flare-Up’s face. “That’s what you used to take away Airam’s power, isn’t it?”

Flare-Up’s right hand reached up and hovered over the white light. “That seems…more than likely. It’s bought us more time before it will force me to unleash it, but how much…” She shook her head. “It will happen in the tower, at least.”

Something started rattling on the street corner ahead of them, and Myra and Flare-Up looked over.

A cart of some kind – purple and black, with no visible driver – came around the corner and stopped at the end of the street. It looked like a covered wagon of some kind, but the canopy over the back was transparent.

“That’s it.” Flare-Up strode towards the cart. “Come on, Myra. It’s time we finished this. For good.”

Myra stared at Flare-Up’s back, wondering how in the world she could be willing to go back to her tormentors, then shook her head and quickly ran after her and scrambled up into the back of the cart in time with Flare-Up.

Flare-Up had said that they were going to be partners. It wouldn’t be right for Myra to just up and abandon her at the last moment.

Time Break

Myra fidgeted in the back of the cart as they came close to the base of the tower. Something about Flare-Up’s calm felt…too calm. “Flare-Up?”

Flare-Up turned her head away from the empty streets and inclined her head slightly. “Yes?”

“Have you…” Myra paused. “Have you participated in tournaments before?”

Flare-Up blinked at the question, then looked up at the transparent canopy above them. "I have. Most of them involved teams of Pokémon being pitted against each other, and I have competed in a Smash Worlds Tournament, as well." She looked back with a tired, serious expression. "But I haven't been involved in anything like what has been described to me here. Why do you ask, Myra?"

Myra blinked a couple times, then looked away – back the way they had come. “Well…I was kinda wondering if you had any experience—“

“According to what I’ve heard you and the others say about this—“ Flare-Up motioned to the tower they were swiftly approaching—“it’s nothing like any normal tournament. It’s a death trap. People go in, and they don’t come out.”

Flare-Up’s voice had taken a dark tone that caused Myra’s eyes to widen before she flinched at the last sentence. After a moment, she gave a hesitant nod. “I…guess you could put it that way, yeah. The Trials aren’t something that I’ve ever thought could be beaten.” She looked at Flare-Up. “But do you think there’s a chance?”

Flare-Up nodded sternly. “We’ve weakened their numbers and strengthened our own. I think we’ll be able to handle whatever lies beyond those doors.” She glared up at the tall, black tower that was ahead of them, and the doors that were swiftly becoming more visible. They looked like they were either made of ancient stone or metal, with carvings of knights fighting against dragons with nothing but swords.

Myra hesitated. "Flare-Up, I don't know if you should have chosen me to go with you for this."

Flare-Up blinked. “What makes you think that?”

Myra looked at Flare-Up in surprise at the question. "W-well, I'm not as strong as Captain America or as fast as-"

"Do you really think that's the only thing that matters?" Flare-Up frowned disapprovingly, causing Myra to flinch again. "What matters is that you and I can work together. I haven't been able to fight side-by-side like this with most of the others we've managed to rescue, and even then, you can read my movements better than they can in a fight."

Myra looked at Flare-Up in surprise at that. "R-really?"

Flare-Up nodded, a somewhat demonic smile working its way across her face. The expression made Myra shudder a bit. "The Dark Arms won't know what hit them."

With that said, the doors in front of them slowly started to open, and Flare-Up returned her attention to the tall tower in front of them as her face shifted into a mask of grim determination.