The Brave Four

If Ogre Rancorem can't cut through, I'm at a loss as to what we can do here...

We at least now know that Jeremis is not to be taken lightly.

Does this world have no other way we could get closer to that citadel?

Hmmm... I'm afraid nothing immediately comes to mind...

Hey that can't be...

It is! The glowing cat!

Another wormhole, is it?

It would appear it wants us to follow it again. Shall we?

It is that cat that guided us here in the first place. If we have no other options then surely it would be in our best interest to follow it, yes?

I agree with Rowen. It took us this far, so we might as well keep following!

Where are we now?

It's strange. It feels like this place exists outside of our reality.

It's a place called the spacetime rift. Why we were brought here, I have no idea.

Hey! Over there!

Our feline friend went into Time's Forgotten Stop.

What's that?

It's a place run by a friend of mine. Let's head over.

Apologies for coming unannounced. Is there any chance a glowing cat has come by?

Second floor. Got it. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks, Master. Okay guys, let's head upstairs.

ALDO?

Hm?

It IS you! Hey Aldo!

We were worried about you!

Cress? Wait, how did everyone get here?

We were worried! You guys disappeared around the same time they found the boy's parents.

I take you know these people, Aldo?

Everyone here is here because of the glowing cat.

Not like I was following it. ...I just happened to end up going through the wormhole it opened.

Well, to think this many people are in the same situation as we are...

You guys too, then?

Yes. Strange that all of us were lead here by the same cat, yet we are all strangers.

And here we are, finally all together, but without the one that brought us all together.

Did Master not say it was on the second floor?

We saw it when we warped over to... wherever this is. But we lost 'em just as fast.

*Arf? WOOF! WOOOOF!*

Ooooh! Our little howler's barkin' up a storm! And that can only mean one thing...

Finally, you're all together.

IT TALKS?!

Now that is strange. You spent all that time quietly shuffling us around, why the change?

My silence was not a choice. I was unable to speak. I am a manifestation of the planet's defense mechanism. The planet selects a method of defense depending on the size of the threat. I have been bestowed the power of speech. Which must mean...

That the threat facing this planet is quite large.

That's great and all, but I'm going to need an explanation. Why were we brought here.

Yes. So how about we begin by putting together what each of you have learned so far.

Citadel of Time... Hmm...

So if that thing starts working, history gets changed. Do I have that right?

To hide it, he did things like that weird tax collection incident in Aldo's time...

And the extremely easy to figure out diversion in Amy's time.

His plan was quite the gamble.

For instance, what if Aldo didn't appear in Amy's time. What are the odds of that happening?

It's not as unlikely as you'd think.

Yeah, Velvet and I had already run into him.

Indeed. Because when you all got together, the center of it all would be...

You, Aldo. The one who stands against the darkness. Under the guise of a black cat, he crossed time and space to gather information. He knew where all the pieces would fall, even before they fell.

So this is what the enemy feels like when they're up against someone who can travel through time... Pretty hard to deal with.

Okay buuut why does he have to turn into a cat though? How does that let you jump through time?

That is because...

That is because... Many years ago, a cat earned the favor of the Goddess of Time. And she gave it the power to travel through time and space as it wished.

A tale oft told in my homeland.

I remember hearing that story.

So it's not just a fairy tale?

There is a tale told long ago in my homeland... About a cat that earned the favor of the Goddess of Time... Nothing but a bit of shrine trivia these days, but it is said the cat could travel through time.

So it's not just a fairy tale?

I'm afraid that is not something I am allowed to share with you. When the time comes, you will know the truth.

At any rate. This planet brought us here to stop this guy from rewriting history. Or at least that's what it sounds like to me.

Yes. One who stands against the light. We have brought you all here to stop him. In your reality, you are all sleeping. To the real you, this is all but a dream. When you save this planet from Jeremis, you will wake up and this will be all be but a vague memory. The planet apologizes for using you without your permission, but if you would lend your strength...

We'll help, but...

I get we're supposed to, like, save the day and all that, but...how?

Yes, if that Ogre Rancorem was no use, it would seem we're out of options...

Guys, come on. It's simple. If the guy made a clone of the Tower of Time... Why don't we just make a clone of Ogre Rancorem? One mythical sword can't break the seal, but two mythical swords will surely seal the deal!

Clone Ogre Rancorem?!

It's not like we can just go to a blacksmith and ask for a new one.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Cress?

I think I am!

You guys gonna share with the class?

We have a sword pretty similar to the one Aldo has in our world. It's called the Eternal Sword!

Yeah! That should do the trick!

Issss what I would be saying if Cress actually brought it with him.

Ah, Arche, I don't think that's what they mean, exactly. If we don't have it here, we should just make it. Do I have it right?

Oh, right. We DID have to make it ourselves back in our world...

I see, not a bad idea. So, what do we need to get?

In our world we used the sword of fire, Flamberge and the sword of ice, the Vorpal Sword. Then we used the power of spirits to put them both together.

Hmmm... Amy, Cyrus, either of you know where we can get swords of fire and ice?

We've got swords that shoot fire and ice back at the shop, but I get the feeling that's not what we want.

Indeed. If we need fire, then we should go to Ratle. Not sure about ice, though...

Going by the kinds of spirits that exist in this world, we might be able to use water instead of ice.

Then in that case, Acteul is where you'd want to go.

Before you leave, please, take this.

*Aroooooooooo!*

What is it?

This ring has guided countless adventurers across several worlds. It will light the path ahead and tear down the barriers that heed your progress.

I see, thanks.

The rest is now up to you. I'm afraid I have no more power left to give.

You have done more than enough, my fluorescent feline friend. Now, where should we head first?

We have to go to both places. So I'll leave the order up to you, Aldo.

Okay. You want me to decide. Got it.

Yeah... Which to choose... Ratle...or Acteul... Acteul...or Ratle...

All right! We got both swords.

Now we just have to fuse the two together, and it should make the Eternal Sword...

You did say you used the power of a great summon spirit... Right? I'll take care of that, then. I may look like a human, but I am the Lord of Spirits, after all.

I still can't get over how that is a real thing. Folks would think I was crazy back home.

Hohoho... I was quite surprised at first, too.

There's just one problem. I can tell the spirits of this world have enough power to do it... It's just the power is unbalanced between the spirits.

I mean... It is fire and water we're talking bout here... Not exactly best friends, you know?

Then perhaps we should go to Aldo's time?

The time the glowing cat originally led us to?

Oh yeah! In Aldo's time, the spirits are all perfectly aligned with the prisma!

That forest we found the kid in might be a good place to start?

The Moonlight Forest, you mean? It's one of the best places for prisma veins, actually.

Then it's perfect. We should head there now.

Okay, then let's hop through time, and head to the Moonlight Forest!

So, where will you go first? Acteul or Ratle? The decision is yours to make. But please...save our future.

You weren't kidding. This place is overflowing with spiritual energy.

Is it enough, you think?

I've never done this before, so I can't be sure until we try it.

So, here goes nothing, I guess!

Okay, here are the swords. Good luck, Milla.

Make two swords into one!

......

You did it, Milla! Great job!

Not quite. Something's wrong.

What's the matter?

They were indeed fused together, but it's still a long ways off from being a sword capable of cutting through time and space. It seems we're still missing one key component.

I bet it just needs a little extra MAGIC!

I'll also help in any way I can!

I'll also help in any way I can!

Though I can be of little help, I will take care of attuning your powers to each other.

Thanks, guys.

So if everyone is ready, let's get started.

*Woooooof?!*

Did it work?!

Cress. Please come and take the sword.

All right.

Yes... No doubt about it! This pulses with the same kind of power as the Eternal Sword!

Now that it is complete, we can cut through time and space and defeat that Jeremis!

There's no time to waste. To the Keruri Highroads!

......

Magilou The Great shall now guess what you are thinking.

Now's not the time for another one of your bits. So how about you don't?

Velvet purified the deities. Milla merged the swords. Cress wields the sword.

And with Arche, Mint, and Rowen helping Milla, you're thinking... "What part do I play in all this?"

......

You're close. I AM thinking about how Repede and I fit in... But I'm also wondering where YOU fit in all this.

I was the one who came up with the idea to make the Eternal Sword, was I not?

Sigh... Nevermind. You really know how to make a girl lose interest. Teasing you is boring.

Heh. Not that I care, though.

What was that all about?!

But she was right about one thing. Why WAS I brought here?

The citadel should be right around here, right?

Maybe? But all I see is a big ball of nothin'.

*Arooooooooooo!*

Repede can sense it. Which means we're definitely in the right place.

Then let's hurry up and bring that sucker out of hiding.

Yeah. Cress, do your thing.

Not a problem.

ETERNAL SWORD! RIP THE CITADEL FROM OUT OF ITS HIDING!

It worked! There's the Citadel of Time!

One day I'd like to see a bad guy lair that didn't look like they were overcompensating.

What is this summon circle doing here?

I bet this is how Jeremis gets in and out of the citadel.

It smells like a trap, to me!

*...Woof woof.*

If Repede says it's safe, then I believe him.

Repede, you are amazing!

Let's not waste any more time, then!

......

Urgh. Damn you butcher of Miglance! The planet's defenses were more capable than I had imagined. Perhaps the Beast King's loss was not just dumb luck, after all.

Give it up, Jeremis! Your plan is a failure!

Heh. I'm afraid that is where you're wrong, Butcher.

I'm okay with those odds. Let the beastfolk future be born! FIRE!

Damn! He fired the time altering laser!

My plan was complete. All I needed was time for my little hatchling to peek its little head. With as long as I incubated it, I had no doubt it would be a success, calculation error or no. And I was right.

So you took a risk.

If you could even call it that. I have to say, I'm impressed the change left you all alive.

Aldo! If we can switch the operator privileges we might be able to...

You can certainly try. But I'm afraid it's only a matter of moments before this place self destructs.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... What're we gonna do?!

The Beast King will have his victory. The future of the planet is already saved.

Child of Visus! Show me the new world. A world without mistakes! The new world of beasts!

Huh. Well. Would you look at that.

What is this?! How could this be? There was only a one percent chance of failure! How could the humans...

Jeremis... This IS the future you created. The future of our world, ruined by beastfolk.

Your Beast King claimed his victory was ordained by the planet itself. The new world order, founded on the hubris of one. It was destined to fail.

But...the humans were just as wrong! Don't act like they weren't! It was humans who left the planet to rot while they lavishly lived it up in the skies!

Yes. Humans do make mistakes. And they will continue to do so. But regardless of those mistakes... There was, and always will be, someone there to correct those mistakes.

Nonsense! There are no mistakes in my future!

Child of Visus. Cancel the self destruction order and begin recalculation!

I was waiting for you to say that!

What? How did you get there?!

How's it goin' down there, Jeremi? So hey, this is basically a copy of the Tower of Time, right?

What of it?!

Then it would be safe to assume, that since you didn't build it from scratch... There's weaknesses you don't even know about!

Anyway, a little bird told me that if you take over this little guy here... You can use its power to do whatever you want!

No. That's impossible!

Hey there, little guy. I'm your new daddy. And daddy wants you to revert time back to where it was before your idiot uncle Jeremis messed it all up.

How?!

That's my boy. Now do what daddy says and put everything back to how it was.

See that Velvet?! He did it!

You know, he reminds me a bit of me when I was younger.

Okay. Everything's back to normal. Now, let's put this kitty back in its kennel.

*AROOOOOOOOOOO!*

HOW DARE YOU REWRITE THE FUTURE! MY FUTURE! I shall not let you humans win again! Even if it costs me everything I have!

BEAST KING... GRANT ME YOUR STRENGTH!

Eeek! What's that?!

Ewwwwwww... That cat looks like it's had one too many hairballs.

When I had heard of the King's demise. I fell into despair! And in my weakest moment, a cat the color of nightfall crossed my path. I had merely blinked, and the cat disappeared. But in its place, a distortion appeared. I was drawn to it, and immediately lept into it. It sent me to the future almost instantly. In that future, the cat reappeared beside me like it was nothing at all. That's when I realized. If the planet thinks nothing of a cat that travels through time and space... Then I shall become a cat, and do the same!

So that is why you took that form!

I WILL RECLAIM THE POWER OF VISUS! I WILL REWRITE HISTORY! AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT TAKES, I WILL HAVE THE FUTURE I DESIRE!

SWORDS AT THE READY!

This is for everything, guys!

I WILL RECLAIM THE POWER OF VISUS! I WILL REWRITE HISTORY! AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT TAKES, I WILL HAVE THE FUTURE I DESIRE!

SWORDS AT THE READY!

This is for everything, guys!

Allow me to help! Take this! May my light guide your blade across time and across space!

This light...

You bet, Aldo!

ARGGGHH!!! Forgive me... My King...

And with it, our purpose in this world fulfilled.

What's this?

The sword shattered!

What the, ?!

The building is starting to crumble!

Eek! I really don't feel like getting flattened today!

Quickly! Back to the summon circle!

*WOOF!*

We got out just in time. It's been reduced to nothing but rubble. Hopefully now the souls of the spirits have been released from his control.

That was a little too close for me.

Now where's the glowing cat? It still hasn't told us how we get back home.

Did you guys hear that?!

I guess this is it...

There's folks back home waiting for you to wake up right? Can't keep them waiting!

Our last adventure together is the road to Time's Forgotten Stop.

More rubble!

Okay, time to for the ring to do its thing...

Wait, nothing's happening?

Guess we're just going to have to find another way around.

The time is nearly come. Soon the child of Visus will be born, and with it history shall be rewritten in our favor. And the future will be the Beast King's to control.

Guys! There he is!

What?! That voice...

I will not allow you to change the past!

You... How did YOU get here?!

Your defenses were as you said... But once we got in, piece of cake.

There was one thing you didn't take into account, Jeremis. You didn't take into account there could be TWO swords that could cut through time and space!

You didn't take into account the BRILLIANT tactical mind of Magilou the Master!

Excuse my friend, she's suffering from selective memory loss.

WITH MY MAGIC (and Mint's other stuff), NO ONE CAN BEAT US!

Yeah! I helped a whole lot!

Heh, and I may have also played a small part as well!

All you had to do is lay down and accept the new future I was graciously making for you all. But I suppose you "hero" types can never leave well enough alone.

We've got you cornered. So why don't you be a good beast and run home with your tail between your legs.

Run? Don't make me laugh. I will change history, or I will die trying.

Citadel of Time. Transition to phase two!

I don't like the sound of that...

*WOOF!*

What did he do?

Shouldn't you be doing something other than standing there looking stupid?

Now, for getting this far, I shall reward you with a one way trip to hell.

Now, for getting this far, I shall reward you with a one way trip to hell.

Thank you, once again. Soon, my job will be complete, and I shall return to silence.

Before you go, you'll return us home though, right?

When we return, will we have forgotten everything that happened here?

It will be like waking up from a dream. When you wake, vague memories may remain, but before long they will fade into nothing.

That's...so sad...

Yeah... After all we've done together, too...

It is what it is. We were called here for a job, and those were the terms.

Ugh, not the "I'm not here to make friends" act AGAIN.

I bet deep down you just wanna find a nice little closet to hide in and sob your little heart out!

How about I lock YOU in a closet.

*Woof...*

Sir Repede... I feel your pain as well...

Wait, since when could you understand him?!

In the long road that is life, for every stop you make, you always leave a piece of yourself with it. This stop feels like it was neither long nor short, it's quite strange, actually.

I hate to go... But, it's weird. I get the feeling it won't be long till we meet again.

I feel the same way.

People do dream the same dreams sometimes, after all.

If it's after I get my revenge... Then maybe I wouldn't mind seeing you all again.

I think that's enough standing around being sad. We got places to be.

Yes... It is now time for this dream to end.

As far as detours go... This wasn't that bad.

MAGILOU MENAGERIE OUT!

I leave the spirits in your capable hands.

Well, this was fun. Keep on fighting the good fight, friends.

See you around.

*WOOF WOOF!*

Bye-bye everyone!

Thank you so, so much!

...Till we meet again!

We'll be waiting!

That's right... You knew all of them, didn't you?

I fear I'm spent...

Yeah. Wait. How did you know?

There you go again, dodging questions.

I fear I'm spent...

Yeah, I feel so empty...

The glowing cat is waiting for us at Time's Forgotten Stop. We should hurry.