Crystal Sides

Chapter 35: Together Again

--POV = Roman--

I pulled away, gazing into his eyes. I never imagined that he could ever love me, but now, as his purple eyes shone through me, it seemed so clear.

"I love you too." I whispered.

"Uh, sorry to ruin the moment," I heard Logan's voice from behind me, "But we have a bit of a dilemma on our hands!"

I turned and glared at him in annoyance, before letting Virgil go and summoning my samurai sword, taking a step forwards, "Let's do this."

Facing Deceit, me and my teammates stood side-by-side, clutching our weapons firmly in our hands. I saw him stagger to his feet, his eyes looking drained. I snarled in fury. How could he trick me like that? I silently vowed to never be manipulated like that again. He sniggered at us, stumbling forwards. 

"How can you do this?" he gave us a feral grin, "I'LL SHATTER YOU!"

He fell to his knees and a wave of snakes surged forwards. Logan fired his gun, Patton cut with his disc, Virgil sliced his whip and I sweeped my sword. Like one person, we battered the snakes away. I heard Deceit chuckle.

"No," he murmured, "on second thoughts, I won't shatter you." he stood up and limped forwards, "I'll corrupt you."

My heart skipped a beat. Not that. Anything but that. I stole a look at my teammates. Patton looked determined. Virgil looked grim. Logan looked mortified. All the while we were feebly hacking at snakes as we were pushed backwards.

Suddenly, a thought came to me, "Guys!"

The others glanced over at me, their eyes wide and questioning.

My heart pounded, "Let's fuse!"

"What?!" Patton exclaimed.

"We need maximum power if we're going to defeat Deceit!" I prompted.

"I suppose that makes sense..." Logan muttered.

There was a pause as they all thought.

"Let's do it." Virgil said, hope flaring in his eyes.

I reached over and grabbed his arm with my free hand. From there, we all connected arms. My heart soared with hope. I screwed my eyes closed. We could do this. We could beat him!

A flash of white light blinded me and a huge force pushed the snakes aways from us.

I felt three more presences inside me, as if our souls were merged together - together again. I opened my eyes and found myself looking out of another gem's body.

We did it! Virgil thought.

What are we called? Patton asked.

I feel like a common human name would fit this form. Logan reasoned.

I thought for a minute. Then I said, How about Thomas?

Sounds good to me! Patton thought, his presence in me full of hope and joy as usual.

Together, as Thomas, we stepped forwards.

"Hey!" I shouted, my voice oddly familiar.

Deceit's gaze locked with mine. His eyes widened, "Who are you?"

I took a step forwards, "I am Thomas!" I yelled, "And together, we're going to take you down!"

I heard a yap and Remy bounded up to me. He stopped at my feet, facing Deceit and snarling. I smiled. With a cry, I leaped forwards, swiping my hand over each of my four gems in turn. A huge red sword with black lines going down it appeared in my hand. I grinned, getting into a battle-ready stance. I propelled myself toward Deceit, landing a few inches away from him. He reached behind him and pulled out a staff. It was a silver metallic colour with glowing yellow lines flowing down it, reminding me of a circuit. At the top, there was a claw-like holder, where a yellow ball of light floated, occasionally buzzing and ejecting a little lightning shock. It looked like one of the destabilizers back on homeworld. I gasped.

Deceit's staff... Logan thought in awe, He barely ever summons it, let alone uses it!

I scowled in determination and swung my sword forwards with my left hand. In a flash, Deceit spun around and blocked my attack with his staff. There was a clang as the two collided. I stared in shock at him. He raised his eyebrow casually. I growled in frustration and aimed another hit at his abdomen. Again he blocked it. Then, with shocking ease and swiftness, he swung his staff at my head. I ducked and quickly threw another swipe at him. In a flurry of red and yellow, we dueled, the sound of metal on metal ringing around the garden. Eventually, the staff evaded my defending swipes and hit my right leg; I wailed in pain as I felt a pulse of electricity shoot through me. I fell to the ground, feeling myself start to come apart.

No! Keep it together! I heard Patton's desperate voice echo around my head.

Then I remembered that I was Roman; I was surprised to find that I'd almost forgotten who I really was amidst the battle. When fused with the others, I fully believed that I was Thomas. And I wanted to stay Thomas. Using all my strength and will, I fought to hold the fusion together. The pain slowly eased away, though my breaths came in exhausted gasps. I heard a cold laugh fill my ears. I glanced up to see Deceit's silhouette looming over me. He lifted his staff up and prepared to strike.

"Goodbye..." he whispered, "Thomas."

All of a sudden, a huge gust of wind surged from behind me. His eyes wide with shock, Deceit was blown backwards. He fell onto his knees as a black shape leaped over my head. I looked to see who it was., and I saw...

Remy?! All of us thought at once.

The black pomeranian stood between me and Deceit, two black wings extended from his back. His fur was flying upwards, frolicking in the wind he had created. I spotted a glint of light from something shiny on his back. It was...

A gem?

I didn't have any time to think about it. I leaped to my feet and swiped my sword so it pointed to the floor dramatically. I propelled myself forwards so that I was standing over Deceit. He glanced up at me, his eyes wide with fear. With a victory cry, I swung the sword down. Virgil put his caution and his love for Roman in the blow. Patton put his joy in it, searing hope and determination. Logan put his reason in it, his love for Noah and his love for his friends. And I, Roman, put my bravery and emotion in it, my optimism and chivalry. With a blinding flash of red light, the sword struck Deceit, the sound filling the air. I fell to my knees, my head spinning.

It's over. Virgil sighed, It's finally over.