Their Names Across The Multiverse

Ding!

The elevator opened its doors. Everyone slowly stepped out and was confused about what they saw.

"Wow...this place is beautiful," stated Nono, stepping out first. "It's like I'm in a fairy tale!"

Everyone exited and stepped into a large castle-style lobby.

The walls and the floor were all stone. A staircase in front of them led up to a wooden door. They could see the door was a bright gold. Nono giggled as she hurried up the steps while Violet joined her.

"Hey, wait! We shouldn't be going off alone," shouted AJ, hurrying after them.

"Not again." sighed Brigitte as T2 put her on her back while Artemis closed the wheelchair. "Hey! AJ, be careful. Anything could happen, so get them back here before they open the door!"

"Right, okay!"

Artemis and T2 went up the stairs when they noticed something. Three diamonds were above the door. They wondered what it meant, but the three diamonds turned bright red as Nono opened the wooden door. A large white smoke came out of the door before Brigitte and the others could warn AJ and the other two.

"Cover your mouths!" warned T2 as she stepped back from the white smoke, but only to be confused when the smoke quickly went back into the door and shut closed. "What was that?"

"I don't know, but we need to open the door again because, god damn it!" Shouted Brigitte, seeing Nono, Violet, and AJ were gone. "Next floor, no one goes ahead or touches anything!"

The trio approached the door, but T2 couldn't open it, and Artemis pointed to the three grey diamonds. Thinking it was a timer or something.

"Hey, are you two okay?" asked AJ, getting up from the floor to see that Nono and Violet were fine as they stood up.

All three looked around to find themselves in what seemed like a dancehall.

AJ could see the others weren't with them, and the same could be said about the door that Nono had opened. She sighed as it happened again. "Where are we now?"

"A dancehall," said Nono, "looks like one I saw in a movie. This is amazing! The floor is so shiny."

"Don't touch anything," ordered Violet, grabbing her hand.

"Huh? Why?"

Nono didn't get an answer, as she could see Violet slowly scanning the area. AJ followed her lead and was confused. She could see a stage across the way. Two large curtains blocked the view.

"Looks like something is behind those curtains," said Violet, slowly letting go of Nono's hand.

Nono stepped back as Violet and AJ got in front of her. The two could feel something wasn't right, and their feeling was spot on as the lights went out and the curtains opened, revealing a long female figure. Even with the spotlights beaming it, it was still hidden in darkness. They could tell the figure was female and had a horn, but what happened next surprised them.

The figure started posing like she was posing for the cameras. The spotlight moved down her body, showing the darkness of her body until it hit the floor. That's when the darkness spread into a circle, and soon, dark hands burst out from it.

AJ clapped her hands and made a metal pitchfork while Violet somehow pulled out a battle axe from nowhere. Nono shook with fear and was confused about how the two pulled those things out of nowhere.

"What is this?!" AJ screamed, ready for a fight.

The shadowy figure stopped posing, looked down at the three, and pointed at them, unleashing shadow copies of itself at them.

Violet was the first to move and darted toward the creatures, leaped into the air, and spun around with her battle axe, taking out multiple shadow copies. AJ was second and fired her pitchfork, impaling the creatures in their heads, while Nono stood back, terrified.

"This can't be happening," whispered Nono. She had never seen these kinds of people in her life and didn't want to fight, but seeing the two new friends she made, she wanted to help them.

She raised her hand forward, making her vectors appear, but they didn't move. Her arm was shaking as the shadow copy moved closer to her.

"Come on, Nono. Don't be scared," she told herself, her arm still shaking. "If I don't do something, my friends will get hurt..."
Nono was still scared and didn't want to use her vectors. She shut her eyes and dropped to her knees in fear.

AJ and Violet were almost overpowered.

They didn't think the shadow creatures would be this strong. Violet was about to slash a creature, but it grabbed the pole of her axe and threw her into a wall. AJ was about to strike another, but it dodged and slashed her across her stomach.

AJ hissed and grabbed her stomach, falling to her knees. She removed her hand and saw that the cut wasn't deep; she was lucky. When they all stopped, she looked up to see the creature about to deliver the finishing blow. "Huh?" AJ watched as the shadows turned to Nono, who was crying loudly and moving closer to her. "Damn it!"

Nono's cries echoed throughout the dancehall as the creatures surrounded her, leaving her defenseless. Violet struggled to stand as one of the shadow creatures held her down with her own axe. The shadow creatures raised their claws, ready to attack, when suddenly, around Nono, medium-sized stone spikes burst out of the ground, stabbing them and vanishing into dust.

Nono opened her eyes and could see the spikes. She turned around to see the path of spikes leading to another doorway. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she heard AJ shouting at her.

"RUN! STAY SOMEWHERE SAFE! WE'LL FIND YOU AFTER WE ARE DONE HERE!" AJ shouted, lifting both hands from the floor in time to dodge a claw attack.

Nono looked back at the two, who were still fighting. "I can't! I can't leave you two!" Nono tried to raise her again, commanding her vectors to attack, but once again, she failed. "Why can't I use my vectors?! Why can't I help?!"

AJ was starting to struggle, and so was Violet.

"DAMN IT! RUN AWAY ALREADY! YOU ARE DEAD WEIGHT, NONO!" shouted AJ, backing up against Violet, who spun her axe, and her battle face hadn't changed.

"Dead weight?" whispered Nono as she slowly backed away. She kept repeating the words as she finally turned around and ran to the door. She pushed it open and screamed as it closed behind her. "I'M SORRY!"

AJ smiled as she heard that. "Stupid girl. At least she's safe for now." she clapped her hands and touched her automail arm, creating a blade. "Hey Violet, how are you holding up? You have been quiet this whole fight."

Violet didn't reply as she was breathing heavily. She could see blood dripping down her side, and her vision was blurry.

"...shit," muttered AJ.

The shadowy figure looked down at the two, and AJ glared up at her. Soon, three diamond eyes appeared on its forehead, it looked around until it stopped and zoomed in on the two.

"Darlings..." said the shadowy figure as a creepy white smile appeared.

Nono kept running, running down a hallway with open windows, revealing a diamond-shaped moon in the night sky.

"Deadweight?" she said to herself as she looked back, seeing the shadow creatures were chasing her. She looked forward and repeated the words.

Nono ran into a room and saw a staircase leading up to a tower. She had no choice but to climb the stairs.

"Please be safe, AJ and Violet." Nono cried, climbing the steps. However, the shadow creatures slowed her down as they busted out of the walls, trying to grab her but missing or tearing a piece of her clothing.

"I don't want to be deadweight. I don't want my friends to suffer. I have to be useful. I have to be helpful! I want to help and make everyone happy!" She cried as she finally reached the top of the tower. She could see a bridge that led to nowhere. It was connected to nothing.

"Deadweight?" whispered Nono, turning around and could see the shadow creatures at the bottom of the steps. She was trapped and had nowhere else to go.

"I just want to help others."

Nono looked back at the bridge and had no choice but to run across it until she was on its edge. She looked down and saw nothing underneath the bridge—nothing but darkness. She looked back and saw the shadows slowly getting closer to her.

"I'm going to die here!?" she shouted, "I won't make Papa sad." Nono tried again to use her vectors, but her fear wouldn't let her. "I'm so useless! I can't even use my own power. I can't fight. I can't save myself. What can I do?"

Nono slowly closed her eyes as she accepted her fate. A few shadow creatures jump forward at her, their claws slowly reaching out to her, ready to tear her apart, when suddenly...

Nono could hear something passing by her. She opened one eye and saw a young woman wearing a short blue jacket with ripped jeans. What really caught Nono's eyes was that the woman herself looked like Brigitte but had white fur, a horn, short purple hair, and a tail. Finally, the red machine arm on their right arm and the sword on her back. Whoever this person was, Nono was just amazed by how fast she could move.

The woman landed, pulled out her gun, and fired, blasting each shadow creature that got close; she then leaped forward, spinning and dodging a few attacks before blasting them in the face, killing them. She then landed on one mid-air and used it as a stepping stone to reach another one, blasting it point-blank and kicking the head off the one she was using as a stepping stone.

The young woman landed on the other side of the bridge, putting her gun away and looking at the last few shadow creatures. She pulled her sword out and stabbed the ground. She turned the handle like a motorcycle and charged the blade, making it roar.

"You're finished, motherfuckers!" she shouted.

She dragged the blade as she charged forward. Nono was amazed as the woman swung her blade and decapitated the remaining shadow creatures. As the head rolled, the woman placed her sword back on her back. She looked around and didn't see any more of these creatures.

"Tsk, never seen those kinds of demons before." She looked around the place, trying to understand why she was there. "This isn't the demonic tree, Qliphoth?" She sighed and couldn't believe she was somewhere else. "Great, just freaking great."

"Hello?"

"Huh?" the woman turned back and saw Nono standing nearby. She could tell this girl was scared because of the shadow demons that she just killed, but something was odd about her. It was like something was behind the girl, but she didn't care as she waved goodbye. "You look like you need a hug, but you're not gonna get one from me, darling." She turned her back to Nono. "Better get lost before you get yourself killed, girly." She started to head to the tower.

Nono didn't move but watched her. "Uh, thank you for saving me. I'm sorry for bothering you. My name is Nono. What is your name, ma'am?"

"Ma'am, huh?" The woman stopped. She slightly turned her head to her. "Name is Miro, Demon Hunter for Devil May Cry." She went back to walking but could hear footsteps behind her. She sighed and stopped. "Why are you following, Momo?"

"Huh? Momo?"

"Your name sounds like Momo."

"Nono, not momo. Nono."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, kid."

"I'm not a kid!" pouted Nono, making Miro laugh. "It's not funny."

"Kid, you are a kid. Now stop following me, alright?" Miro was about to enter the tower when she felt something on the lower part of her jacket. She turned and could see Nono gripping her jacket. "Hey! What are you doing? Get your hands off of me!"

"You're a demon hunter, right?" asked Nono, looking up at Miro, who nodded. "Well, those things you killed, they are attacking my friends...I need your help."

"And what will I get for helping you?" asked Miro, not liking the idea.

"Oh, uh..." Nono was thinking but couldn't think of anything. She sadly looked up at her. "My papa said helping others is its own reward. If you help me, we can both be happy and-"

Miro sighed. "Diana gonna kill me for taking a free job but..." She could see a flash of a pink-haired, yellowed skin songstress smiling at her. "...Kyrie told me I will always know what path is right and wrong. I can't just walk away if this girl is begging for help. Diana will understand. She'll forgive me for not charging her."

"Miss?"

"Alright, fine, I'll help." She raised her robotic red arm, wanting to shake her hand, but Nono looked confused and didn't know what she was doing. "Huh? Oh, sorry. Where I'm from, we do a handshake. It means a promise."

"Like this?" asked Nono, grabbing her hand, shaking it, and letting go.

"Yeah... you've never seen a handshake before?" Miro narrowed her eyes at the young girl. "Not only that, but you look...weird? What happened to your fur? Even your tail is missing."

Nono remembered what Brigitte told her and believed this woman was like them. She explained that they were from a different universe and were here to help some kids.

"Kids?" whispered Miro, suddenly feeling a headache. "Ugh!" Her memories are foggy, but she remembered meeting someone after she called Kyrie using a phone booth. She recovered and nodded. "Yeah, remember someone coming to me for aid about helping some kids. I was on my way to stop my aunt and my mom from killing each other, but I remembered whoever came to me that I'd return as if only a few seconds had passed."

"That's what happened to me and my friends." Nono was glad she wasn't the only one.

After that, the two headed into the tower and quickly descended the stairs. Miro had no problem going down the stairs with her speed but stopped as she heard Nono crying for her to slow down. She sighed and waited for her.

"Are we almost there?"

"No," replied Miro, who kept moving, "You are slowing me down. Can't you hurry up?"

"I'm trying! But you are super quick!" She fell on her rear, out of breath.

Miro rolled her eyes and picked her up, carrying her like a baby.

"W-Wait! Put me down! I'm not a kid!"

"Stop whining and relax. If we are going to help your friends, you're going to need to shut up and stop being-" Miro sped down the steps, but before she could finish, Nono finished the sentence.

"Deadweight?"

Miro looked at her and could see the tears rolling down her face. She stopped and gently placed her down.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I understand how you felt just now, being called that." She looked away, thinking about her past. "I was called a deadweight, and it hurts."

"You were called that too? Who called you a deadweight?"

"My boss, Diana, who I learned is also my aunt. After she helped me save my city, I joined her Demon Hunter service and created the mobile branch for it. Five years later, some woman came up to me, cut my arm off, and took the Yamato that was within it. Months later, a demonic tree appears in a city; Diana and the others go ahead to fight some new demon that caused the tree to appear." Miro raised her robotic arm, flexing it. "I got there, but like the rest, I was beaten, and Diana told me to get out of there, but I couldn't leave them. I wanted to help, but she called me..."

"Deadweight?"

"Yeah. It's still hard to forget, hearing the only person who believed in you calling you that."

Nono sniffled, and Miro could see a few tears falling from Nono's eyes. She looked back at her arm, making a fist.

"If I hadn't lost my arm and been at full power, then I wouldn't have been deadweight."

"Yeah," sobbed Nono, wiping the tears away. "If I can use my power, I wouldn't be a burden to everyone."

Miro looked at the girl, wondering what kind of powers she had. But Miro could see something behind Nono; she couldn't make it out, but something was there.

"I want to help. I don't want to be a deadweight anymore. I want to be useful. I want to protect my new friends!" Nono cried, clenching her hands.

Miro smiled. "Same, in not wanting to be deadweight." Miro patted her on the head.

Nono looked up and smiled.

"How about we stop talking and find your friends, and then we can kick some ass, alright?"

"But what if I can't-"

"Don't worry. I can deal with those demons, but you must be ready and try, okay?"

"Okay, Miss Miro."

"Please, just call me Miro."

"Miro."

"Better, let's go.

Miro darted down the stairs, and Nono started to whine again, as she wasn't fast enough to keep up.

"Slow down!" she shouted.

Miro was enjoying having someone who could relate to her. She could see Nono was getting stronger mentally.

"You are a cute one," muttered Miro, smiling.

Miro and Nono exited the tower and entered a large hallway. Nono pointed down to the end, showing where her friends were. As Miro took a few steps, more shadow creatures appeared. She smiled as she pulled out her sword and stabbed the ground. She revs it up like before, making it roar like a motorcycle.

"Get ready to watch how a real demon hunter works," Miro said, smiling.

Nono stayed back as she watched Miro do her thing.

Miro raised her metal arm and fired her hand, attached to a burning heat cable. The blast through a shadow creature's chest made her zip toward it. She landed and stabbed the creature with her sword.

"That's one, now for the others!"

Miro rushed toward the next shadow creature, kicking it and slicing its head off.

"Two down, more to go!"

Nono was amazed, watching the older woman kick the shadows' butts. But she could see some of them were coming toward her. Nono was ready to run but remembered what Miro said. She took a deep breath and tried to focus.

"Please work," she begged. She raised her arm and tried to use her vectors again. "Please! I can't be deadweight!"

Her arms were shaking and sweating, and the shadow creature was getting closer and closer.

"No! Work, please!"

As the creature approached, Nono was ready to give up when she opened her eyes, but one of the shadow creatures' chests burst open as a red metal hand emerged.

"No touching the cute, sad little girl, darlings! That's pretty rude!" said Miro as she swung the shadow creatures around, hitting a few of its comrades with the heated wire and slicing them into two. "Time to die, motherfuckers!"

She threw the shadow creature away and used her wires to rip its head off.

Nono was in awe at the woman's strength, but her thoughts were interrupted when a few more shadow creatures charged her. She took a deep breath and tried her best, but no matter how hard she tried, nothing happened.

"Why isn't it working?" Nono looked at her arms. "This isn't how my power is supposed to be."

She closed her eyes but could hear something landing, making all the shadow creatures cry in pain. Soon, there was nothing, no more fighting. She opened her eyes and could see Miro putting her sword away.

"You okay?" asked Miro. Seeing tears rolling down Nono's cheeks.

"Y-Yes. T-Thank you."

"No problem. So, what's with you holding your arm out like that? Trying to tell the demons to stop?" joked Miro, trying to make her laugh.

Nono just cried as she didn't want to disappoint her new friend.

"Hey, I was just kidding. Come on, don't be like that."

"I'm a deadweight," sobbed Nono, making the woman feel a little guilty. "I can't use my power to help my friends or myself."

"Your power, huh? Can you use it?" questioned Miro as she walked down the hall with Nono.

"No," replied Nono sadly.

"What is your power?"

"It's hard to explain, but it's a part of me. I can do things others can't in my universe."

"Like what?" asked Miro, turning to her but walking backward. "Magic? Firing a beam or something? Give me some hints here, kid."

"Vectors."

"Vector?" Miro stopped and saw Nono's eyes glowing pink. She was confused until she turned and saw the wall was destroyed. "Huh!!" She ready her sword, but nothing appeared from the smoke when it cleared. She looked back at Nono, who was looking sad. "...so, these vectors. You can destroy something with a thought?"

Nono shook her head. "No. It's like extra arms that I can only see. I can increase their vibration frequency, allowing me to attack or defend myself."

"Can't you just make them and punch these shadow things?"

"I could, but..." Nono showed her arm, revealing to Miro that she was scared as it shook. "I'm scared...I don't want to hurt anyone or anything. I promised Papa I would be a good girl, but my friends were fighting a scary female shadow figure. They need my help, and I want to help them."

"Then stop crying and do what you can, Nono. Stop being afraid of yourself."

"B-But-"

"Do you want to protect your friends?" asked Miro.

Nono nodded.

"No matter how scared you are, you must be willing to put yourself in danger. No matter how hard the battle is, no matter if you can't do it alone, know you can't win if you have a weak mind and heart," explained Miro, lowering herself to her. "We all desire strength in protecting or saving the people we care about. I couldn't save someone who was like a big sister to me. To this day, I hate myself for not having enough strength." She looked at her robotic hand, making it into a fist. "But this time is different. Even with losing my arm and the powers I had, I'll never give up. I will keep going. For myself, my family, and friends, and for her."

"Her?"

Miro ignored Nono and stood up, continuing her speech. "Power and strength don't come from our bodies. It comes from here." She pointed at Nono's chest. "As long as your heart is filled with a strong desire and your mind is focused, you will overcome any obstacle." She smiled. "So, let's hurry, kid."

"I'm not a kid," replied Nono, but she smiled and nodded. "But I will try my best, Miss Miro."

"I already said to call me Miro."

"O-Okay, M-Miro."

"Better."

They continued down the hallway, seeing more shadow creatures emerge from the walls.

"Looks like they're not going to stop. Ready, Nono?" asked Miro, readying her sword.

"Yeah, I'll do my best, Miro!" replied Nono, her vectors coming out.

"That's what I want to hear." She revved up her blade and pulled out her gun. "Like Diana always says! IT'S TIME TO PARTY!"

"I'll do my best to save my friends, Papa," whispered Nono as the shadows charged them.

A huge stone dome was around the stage, and AJ dropped to her knees. Violet was still standing, but her outfit was battle-damaged. She breathed as she lowered her battle axe.

"Did your plan work?"

AJ wiped her bloody chin and glared at the stone dome she had created, imprisoning the shadow figure. "I don't know, but the way figure fights reminds me too much of that annoying brat who can control shadows back in my universe. Her weakness was trapping her in darkness, not allowing her shadows to appear in complete darkness. But..." As she said that, the stone dome was sliced in two, making it fall apart and revealing the shadow figure inside. "...this monster's powers might not be the same. Damn it."

"What should we do now?"

"Keep fighting until the others find us or...you know...."

Violet nodded.

The shadow figure looked down at the two and laughed. It was about to pose when there was a loud knocking on the wooden door to their side. All three turned to it in time; as the doors burst open, a shadow was being used as a battle ram, revealing Miro was riding it. Nono was crying as she held on to Miro's tail, and all the shadow creatures were around them, trying to attack them.

It happened so fast, but everything was moving super slowly to Miro. She jumped off the hurt shadow and fired her gun, hitting and killing each shadow monster. She reloaded her gun, pulled out her sword, and sliced a few monsters into bits. When she was done reloading, she jumped on one of the shadow creatures back, finished the rest off with her gun, and finally pointed her gun at the one she was riding. She pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. She cursed as she ran out of ammo and just stabbed the creature in the head and landed on the floor with her on top of it still.

"Sorry if I let myself in. I hope you're not busy."

AJ and Violet stared in amazement, while the shadow figure was just surprised.

"That's...wow," muttered AJ.

"I think I'm going to throw up." cried Nono, still holding to Miro's tail for dear life. She turned green, and her cheeks puffed up as she was about to throw up, but Miro pulled her tail away from Nono.

"YOU ARENT'T GOING TO THROW UP ON MY BEAUTIFUL TAIL!" shouted Miro, holding it as she watched Nono throw up on the ground. Miro turned to Shadow figure, whose three diamond eyes looked at her. "I'm guessing your the big bad bitch I take it? I don't want to hear any stupid speeches about how you will take over the world or something. I want to kick your ass and get home." She said, walking toward it.

"Who is this?" asked AJ, being helped up by Violet.

"I think Nono found someone like us and is now aiding us."

"Yeah, but did she have to make a big entrance like that?" AJ smirked.

Miro stabbed the ground, revved her sword, and glared at the shadow figure.

"Come on, show me what-" Within a split second, the figure was already in front of her, making Miro freak out and jump back, but only to sense something was behind her. She looked back and could a giant shadow mouth with millions of razor sharp teeth.

"DODGE!" screamed AJ.

Miro didn't hesitate and moved to the right, avoiding the attack. As the monster's jaws closed, the force of the attack broke the floor and cracked the walls.

"Damn it!" Miro jumped on the wall and dodged another attack. The figure didn't stop and tried to slash her with its shadow claws, but Miro ran across the wall, firing her gun at the figure. The figure didn't flinch as the bullets hit it. It raised its arms and was ready to strike, but Miro jumped away in time and used her sword to block the shadow blades that appeared out of the shadow arms. She landed and rolled near AJ and Violet.

"What the hell is this thing made of?! My sword should have gotten through it!" cried Miro.

"Its body is made of darkness. Its attacks are also made from it," replied AJ.

"Shit," muttered Miro. "So, this means my sword won't be able to cut her, huh?"

"Pretty much, yeah," said AJ.

The figure was already between them before Miro could say anything to them. It posed and blasted out shadow arms at them. AJ created a wall to protect herself and Violet while Miro blocked each attack.

"Bitch!" she raised her arm and fired her hand at it. It went through the figure's body, allowing her to get closer. "If my sword can't hurt you, then maybe taking out those three diamond eyes can do some damage to ya?" She rushed at it, swinging her sword. The figure blocked her attack and kicked her, sending her flying.

"Miro!" screamed Nono, seeing Miro landing and being stabbed by the shadow's blades as a dust cloud was made. "MIRO!"

The shadow blades pulled away, allowing the dust to clear. Miro coughed as she stood up, bleeding, but she wasn't too hurt.

"Damn, glad I blocked that in time, but..." She looked down at her robotic arm, seeing it was destroyed as it was torn apart and sparking. "Shit, AJ gonna be pissed at me again. The weapon is art or whatever crap she says." she raised her arm and released the broken arm, letting it hit the floor hard that it shattered into broken pieces.

"How is she still moving?" asked AJ, seeing the figure's eyes were focused on her. "Her arm was just destroyed. The pain she must be feeling..."

"She's tough," Violet replied.

The two knew how a removed metal prosthesis connected to the human body's nervous system could cause excruciating pain, yet Miro stood like nothing had happened.

Miro looked at the stump of an arm and sighed. She flicks it like she is waiting for something to happen, but nothing.

"What?"

She flicked her arm again, but like before, nothing happened.

"Damn it, I can't summon the other Devil Breakers? Is it because I'm in another universe?" Miro shook her head, ignoring the problem. She was ready to fight.

"This girl...she's crazy," muttered AJ.

"You're not wrong, but you have to give her props for being so strong," replied Violet, clutching her battle axe. "We need to join her in the fight."

AJ agreed, and they joined the battle, attacking the shadow figure.

Nono was watching from the sidelines, holding her chest.

"M-Miro," she muttered, tears forming in her eyes. Seeing her new friend fighting without an arm. Doing her best to help fight off this monster. Nono looked over to her friends, who were badly hurt and tired from the fighting but still going. They were in that state because they protected her; now, Miro was fighting to protect them. "Everyone is putting themselves in danger. They are getting hurt...because of me. I'm just being deadweight and holding them back. But..." Nono looked down at her hands and clenched them. "...I won't hold them back anymore. I won't let my friends or my new friend get hurt. I promised my papa that I won't fight again, but...I must break my promise. I won't be a burden to anyone ever again!" She could see her vectors coming out of her back, and her eyes glowed pink. "I won't run away! I will do what I can to protect everyone!"

Miro slid back as she blocked a shadow blade. She was now between the others.

"Hey, how are you two doing?" She laughed. "You seemed fucked up."

"Thanks, we love to hear that," replied AJ.

The shadow figure stared at them, waiting to see what they would do next, but it saw something and unleashed its shadow arms at them.

"Here it comes! Stand ready!" ordered Violet, raising her battle axe.

Miro and AJ joined her in getting ready, but only for the arms to be blocked by something. The shadow arms slowly wrapped around what was pushing them back, revealing see-through arms. Everyone looked behind themselves and saw Nono standing there, her eyes glowing pink.

"Nono!?" said AJ and Violet in unison.

"I won't let you hurt my friends anymore!" said Nono, gritting her teeth.

The shadow arms pushed harder and started to crush the see-through arms.

"Shit, those arms won't hold for long!" stated Miro, ready to jump and slice those shadow arms, but Nono's vectors suddenly grabbed her. "WHAT THE HELL!?"

"Nono!? What are you doing!?" shouted AJ as she and Violet were wrapped up by the vectors and pulled away to a new door that appeared.

Nono was given everything she had to keep the shadow arms at bay, but she knew she wasn't powerful like Lucie regarding her vectors. She could see her vectors being pushed back and the shadow arms racing toward her. She needed to save her friends, even if it meant...

"I'm sorry, Papa. I couldn't keep my promise to you to live a peaceful life."

"NONO!" shouted Miro.

"I WANT TO PROTECT MY FRIENDS!" screamed Nono, her eyes turning pink as the shadow arms were inches from her body. Nono freed her vectors from the shadow arms and rocketed them toward the new door, slamming them onto it. She was trying to open the door so her friends could escape, but the shadow arms grabbed her body, trying to rip her apart.

"No, Nono! Let us help you!" shouted AJ, trying to break free from the vectors.

"No, you girls can't die!" screamed Nono.

The shadow arms slowly started to pull her prosthetic limbs off slowly.

"NONO!" screamed Miro, as she was the only one who didn't know that Nono's limbs were prosthetics, thinking she was really losing real limbs.

The shadow arms held Nono down, finally pulling off a leg and an arm. Nono cried as she saw her limbs being tossed to the floor and being crushed by the Shadow Figure's feet as she stood over her.

Nono clutched her teeth and smiled at it. "Go ahead! Destroy it, I don't care! My strength and willpower don't come from my body, not even from the fake parts, but from my heart as long as I'm filled with a strong desire! A goal to reach, no matter how hard it may seem! As long as I'm motivated by the will to achieve it, no matter what you do to me! No matter what happens, I won't lose sight of that goal; even if my body breaks and shatters, I'll never break my will!" she screamed, finally opening the doors, tossing her friends out, and closing it.

"NONO!" screamed the three as they raced to the door, closing it shut.

Nono started to cry and smiled at her friends as she shut the door on them. "Goodbye, everyone."

"NONO!" screamed Miro, rushing to the door as it closed. She pounds it. "NOT AGAIN DAMN IT! I CAN STILL FIGHT!" She bangs the door more, her body trembling as she drops to her knees. "Damn it..."

Inside the ballroom. Nono's last arm and leg were pulled off and destroyed. The Shadow Figure raised her with her shadow arms.

"Do it...kill me..." said Nono, smiling. "At least...my friends are safe, and... That's all that matters."

The shadow arms moved around her, ready to rip her to shreds, but... didn't. Instead, it petted her head like a mother petting their child.

Nono was surprised by this and didn't know what to think. The Shadow Figure dropped her, causing her to land on the floor. The Shadow Figure stared at her and left. It walked back to the stage, stood back in the spotlight, and turned and spoke for the second time.

"Giving up your limbs and even your life and goals for others, others you hardly know...generosity...a very rare thing to find these days," the figure's voice was calm and soft. It sounded like a high-class woman. "Maybe those four were right..."

With that, she bowed, and the curtains closed. Leaving a limbless and confused Nono crying.

"What was...all that? Who were you talking about? Four?"

As she lay there, crying, a purple light hovered near her and got closer.

Meanwhile, Miro was banging her fist on the door, hoping it would open. All of a sudden, It opened, and she entered it.

"Nono!"

She charged in but only found three new people.

"Who the fuck are you!?" asked T2, putting Brigitte into the wheelchair and readying herself for a fight.

AJ and Violet hurried over to stop T2 and explained what happened. Before anyone could look for a way back to Nono, the door closed and disappeared. Soon, the elevator door appeared in its place. The doors opened, revealing a crying Nono as she was lying against the wall.

"Nono!" cried everyone as they hurried inside of the elevator.

"Girls," muttered Nono, looking at them as they entered.

"Nono, what the hell happened? How are you in this freaking weird elevator?" asked Miro, sitting down and checking on her wounds but only to discover she had none, as her limbs had stumps.

Nono quickly explained to her about losing her real limbs to Lucie. As she finished, she explained how she got here.

"A purple light picked me up and put me in here. It spoke to me."

"A purple light?" questioned Brigitte. "What did it say?"

Nono looked at everyone and then at Brigitte.

"She said, 'Time is running out,' we need to find the last two people on the next floor. After that, we need to..."

"Save those kids at all costs by joining the others."

Everyone turned around, seeing four color lights. Two purple and two blue lights. Before they could say anything to them, the doors closed.

Spark stopped there as she suddenly felt something. Everyone noticed something was wrong with her.

"Spark? Are you okay?" asked Shining, getting up with the others.

Spark couldn't understand it, but it felt like she was super sleepy. But why? Her body started to glow rainbows, stopping whatever was causing it.

"I'm okay now, I think? Don't worry. My talent is overcoming anything. Even magic spells cast on me..." She glared at the doorway, sensing that the magic spell came from there. "I need to check on something!"

Everyone watched as Spark flew out of the room and down the hall. Dash and Dashie followed her but couldn't keep up with her. Night Light saw this and followed as well.

"This magic...it feels like my own, but at the same time, it isn't.' thought Spark as she arrived inside the largest room of the library. She looked around but saw no one. "Hello?"

There was no reply, but Spark felt the same magic.

"You're here. I know it."

Spark's eyes started to glow bright rainbow colors as she became aware of her surroundings. Someone was hiding in the darkness and the light.

"Is it you, Fayth!? If so, I won't allow you to harm anyone else here! So, show yourself!"

She didn't get a response but was suddenly attacked. She dodged the attack and looked up.

"Is that...w-what!?"

She saw Twilight, who looked upset that she had missed her magical spell.

"Mom? Wha-huh?" Spark didn't have enough time to speak as she saw magical runes under her and was quickly blasted by powerful magic. "M-MOM!? WHY!?"

Twilight dropped down and walked up to her, looking sad.

"Sweetie. What we are about to do is for your own good."

"What are you talking about!? Why are you attacking me!?"

Twilight shook her head and raised her hoof. Spark's eyes widened as two other Alicorns emerged from the darkness and light. It was Celestia and Luna. Flashes of her universe, Celestia and Luna, appeared in her mind, making Spark filled with rage and betrayal.

"YOU TWO!" she screamed, unleashing a rainbow shockwave that sent the three princesses flying. "I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T LIKE MY UNIVERSE COUNTERPARTS, BUT I WAS WRONG! YOU ARE TRYING TO USE ME OR SOMETHING!? WELL, I WON'T LET YOU!" she looked at Twilight, who stood up first. Spark started to cry. "....mom...I thought we were a family...didn't you love me? Why are you attacking me!?"

"You misunderstood," replied Twilight. "I'm doing this because I love you."

Spark wiped her tears away. "I don't believe you. I won't ever!" Spark started to summon her back halo. "I was stupid to belie-huh!?" Spark suddenly felt something and dropped to her knees. It was the same feeling from before, making her feel sleepy, but this time, her body wasn't overcoming it. "What did you do to my body!?"

Twilight closed her eyes, and soon, the Elements of Harmony emerged from the runes on the floor. She opened her eyes, which were filled with tears.

"You can hate me all you want, sweetie, but if one of my theories is correct...then what I and the sisters here must do is for the best."

Spark tried to move, but her body felt like mud.

"N-No. No. I can't... I won't let this happen!" she shouted, trying to move her body. Seeing flashes of her and her twin sisters being used as test weapons when they fused as one. Unleashing their power on targets as their grandfather watched. "NO! NO, I REFUSE TO DO THIS AGAIN! NOT FOR YOU, CELESTIA AND LUNA! NOT ANYONE!"

She tried to get up but couldn't move, and the Elements moved closer. Soon, they unleashed a rainbow beam at her, making her scream. Then, she finally dropped to the floor and slept.

"Friend, Twilight. Are you sure we shouldn't have told her? She will now hate you if you are wrong about this. Not that I have any doubt in your theory," Luna questioned, walking over to Spark's sleeping body.

"It's better this way. I can't let her suffer anymore."

Celestia walked up to her and hugged her. "Twilight, my dear, I understand, but I think you need to explain this to them at least."

Twilight looked where Celstia was pointing, seeing Dash and Dashie at the doorway, very confused and mad. Soon, her father arrived as well.

"What the hell did you do, Twilight!?" screamed Dash.

Twilight looked at Spark's sleeping body and looked back at them, crying.

"Braver and Blitz might still be alive or their..." she started to sob. 'Or their daughters are within Spark's Element Core!"

Both Dash and Dashie were confused as they looked at the sleeping Spark...

End of Chapter 21