"Ryuko." A voice spoke. "Ryuko, wake up!" The voice shouted again. Ryuko Matoi's eyes began to flutter open.
"Senketsu?" She asked trying to determine the voice, though she was barely conscious.
"Yes, Ryuuko," Senketsu, Ryuko's Kamui confirmed, "It's me."
Ryuko's vision began to restore. She looked around. She was lying on a round pedestal that extended into a walkway behind her. Everything was shrouded in a lavender hue.
"What the hell!?" Ryuko shouted, standing up quickly, "Where are we?!"
"Calm down, Ryuko!" Senketsu warned, "We need to be cautious."
"But, where the hell are we?"
"Maka, you awake?" Soul asked, shaking his partner. Maka began to stir, her eyes slowly opening.
"Soul..." Maka said, slowly, her consciousness barely returning.
"You'd better get up, Maka," Soul said, "I think we're in trouble."
"Uh...Natsu?" Happy mumbled, biting his claws.
"Yeah, Happy?" Natsu asked, sitting up.
"Why is everything purple?" Happy asked.
"Come on, Twilight, wake up!" Spike said, nudging Twilight.
Twilight opened her eyes, and squinted at her partner. "You're a dog again... Are we back at Canterlot high?"
"I don't think so, Twilight." Spike said, and Twilight sat up. She looked in front of her at the massive structure.
"Where are we?"
Kirito rubbed his head as he stood up. Everything seemed off. He looked around. "Is this a secret boss or something?"
"I'm afraid not, Kazuto Kirigaya," A voice boomed in front of Kirito. He looked up and saw an extremely large figure, towering over him at well over a hundred feet tall. It was barely humanoid in appearance, it was huge creature appeared to be made of machinery, possessing a large, skull-like head, sporting spiked purple hair and a crown, wearing a large dark cloak with ornaments attached. "You may be pleased to know that you have safely exited Sword Art Online, though you're not exactly safe now."
"What the...?" Kirito stuttered. "Who are you?"
The being in the center stood up, showing it's great height even more. "My name is Deus ex Machina," the machine-like being spoke, "And welcome to the Cathedral of Causality."
"The what?" Ryuko said under her breath.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why you're here." Deus said, gazing at the various figures around him.
"Well, that's certainly one thing going though our minds!" Natsu shouted, raising a fist. He prepared to engulf it in fire, but it failed.
"I"m afraid you're power will not work here, Natsu Dragneel." Deus said, "As will none of the rest of your's."
"Senketsu?" Ryuko asked, gazing down at her uniform.
"I'm sorry, Ryuko," the uniform replied, "but we can't synchronize here. Something is blocking my power."
"Soul?" Maka asked.
"I can't transform..." Soul replied, frustrated.
"What's going on here...?" Natsu mumbled.
"I have pulled all of you from your various realities to compete in a game, to decide who will be my successor." Deus explained.
"A game?!" Ryuko shouted, "You brought us all here for a game?!"
"This is not your normal game, Ryuko Matoi," Deus scoffed, "This is a game of life and death. You ten will fight against each other to the death, and whoever is left standing in the end will take my place as God of Time and Space."
"God of Time and Space, huh?" A deep female voice said.
"Each of you will be assigned a number, and then sent into the world where you must hunt down and kill one another."
"What kind of a sick game is this..?" Ryuko mumbled.
"Ryuko Matoi is First. Twilight Sparkle is Second. Kazuto Kirigaya is Third. Adagio Dazzle is Fourth. Gajeel Redfox is Fifth. Medusa Gorgon is Sixth. Cinder Fall is Seventh. Natsu Dragneel is Eighth. Maka Albarn is Ninth. Nui Harime is Tenth. Ruby Rose is Eleventh. Akihiko Kayaba, who would have played the part of Twelfth, has sadly committed suicide before this began, and his place will not be replaced." Deus sat back down, and closed his eyes. "Remember that I have control over this game. Whilst I plan to stay out of it for the most part, I may change things up if it gets too boring. From this point on, I will be sending you the world where this competition will take place, and you will have all your power back. Good Luck."
A bright light began to shine within the Cathedral, and everyone vanished.
