"None of us stay the same on our path to immortality. Shouldn't we be moving towards balancing ourselves as well?"
Tsukiko Shiroyami, Tale Caster extraordinaire and once loyal member of the Niji Army, faces her death alongside her trusty Tale, K...
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Tsukiko Shiroyami was about to die.
A swarm of her magical light butterflies, the largest she had ever conjured in her life, flowed all around her and the four other beings present in the confined space. It came from all the Tale Gems she possessed and from her own body as well, which was slowly burning up, consumed by such overwhelming amounts of energy and emotions, unable to resist it all. In a few moments, she would pass away from the sheer force behind her final spell.
She would not die alone, though. The attack seemed to be working on its intended target: Eru, the last of the two dark Tales, who was also dissolving, screaming in pain, wrath and impotence. His partner, Kei Shiroyami, was bound by the shadow powers of Tsukiko's Tale, Kiari, and thus was unable to assist his soul companion in this crucial moment. He writhed in his prison of black tendrils, shouting curses, his rage towards his sister palpable in the very air they all shared.
The fifth creature inside the closed arena was also crying, but the tears flowing from his black and white eyes were of a deep sadness. Zetsubou Shiroyami, Tsu's only son, was helpless to do anything, weakened by the battle that had been going on up until this point. He could not believe his mother was about to perish. He didn't believe he would be able to stand losing her. His weeping calls of 'Mom! No!' reached the young lady, but she did not flinch or waver. Her will and her mind were set on her choice. She knew this was what had to be done to ensure her half-Tale son had a future to live for. Maybe she wouldn't be able to take both of her lifelong enemies down, even at full power... But one of them would suffice, at least. The family conflict that had sealed all their fates was about to end after years of prolonged suffering, and the Tale Caster was relieved.
"I can't believe you, though." Kiari, the resentful, thumb-sized fairy Tale whispered, audible only to the woman. "You have some nerve to be leaving me alone, too."
"I'm not." Tsukiko replied softly. "You know full well how this is going to conclude."
"Tch." The winged one spat, frowning at her captured quarry. "This really is the end for all of us, isn't it?"
"Pretty much." The white-haired young woman answered. Her voice was full of kindness, despite what was going on. "It's been a nice life, though, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah, there's that, at least." Kiari agreed, nodding. "No regrets left behind."
Tsu's body was already half gone, and her spirit was clinging by a thread to the mortal realm. Assuming she wasn't taken out as well, her Tale would live on, given that they were in Minori, and that she could feed off the dimension's life force if she lacked a partner to share it with. But the fairy was well aware she wouldn't survive this battle either, not without her best friend and life companion fighting at her side. Her only choice was to deal as much damage as she possibly could to Kei, hoping to bring him down with them. If she failed, well... The boy couldn't just remain kneeling there, letting his tears drop like the crybaby he was. He had his part to play in the fight, too.
