AN: And so, let's go back...back into the past. ENJOY.

ARC Eight: Sins of the Past

Chapter Sixty Two: 400 Years Ago

Time moves forward...unceasing, unflinching. Like a waterfall continuing down to the mighty ocean. Going back up the stream is fruitless, you are unable to stop it's flow...and even if you did, the ocean will still be there.

So one will have to make it to the start of the puddle, then the stream, the river and finally end up at the fall.

Not going against it.

Flowing with it.

Let us do that. And see the past.

And then, let time move forward.

Flugel Nova.

Long ago, he was born to a small family in a remote village outside of the Capital of a country that was forming. His mother was a beautiful yellow haired woman with soft green eyes named Galatea and his father a rough but gentle man with brown hair named Oberon.

They lived quaint lives, getting by on what they could. It was when several traveling mages came by, that it awakened the boy's interest in magic. He was revealed to be quite skilled in yin and yang magic, mostly on the darker spectrum though. His parents were indeed proud by the idea of their son becoming a great magic user.

Then, as more time passed Flugel noticed something.

He was quite lonely.

It wasn't because he was unattractive or anything, he was quite handsome even as a boy. However, all the girls his age went out with boys more interested in become knights or merchants. At the time, magic users weren't truly as popular as those fields.

He passed his time venturing out into the wide wilderness near his home...then one day he actually got lost.

"Damn, you can't be serious."

He went around and around the forest not being able to find a way back no matter what he did. Flugel came to the idea that he was going to have to sleep the night away.

Then, he heard something.

"Who are you?"

"Huh?"

Flugel woke up in the cave he took refuge in and glanced around. He saw nothing, so he imagined it being-

"I simply asked who you were."

"What?! Okay, I know I heard something that time."

He peered into the darkness behind him...and out came a small speck of light colored red with a white hue to it.

"What the?! A-Are you a spirit?"

"Why yes, naturally."

"Oh...Well I've sometimes seen other spirits around here...but never one that talks like you."

"Ah, well I'm quite more sophisticated than the other spirits naturally."

"...I see. Can you help me find a way out of here?"

"...I do not see the harm in that."

The small spirit lead him out of the cave and out into the outer forest...then Flugel thought he saw someone glancing at him from behind a tree.

"Hm?"

"What is it?"

"N-Nothing...I thought I saw someone?"

"...Must have been your imagination."

Flugel accepted it, but never shook the feeling off. He could have sworn he saw someone staring at him.

Over the course of a week, he simply didn't want to forget that he definitely saw someone in that forest.

So one day, he ventured off to find out what he saw. Deeper and deeper he went to find the mysterious person he wanted to know about.

Minutes turned to hours. Time moved forward.

Flugel set up camp for the night.

"Good thing I told momma and poppa that I was going out tonight. Otherwise this wouldn't have played out as well as it did."

Flugel yawned loudly as he nodded off, hoping to venture out into the vast unknown of the trees around him. He kept thinking about what this person was or what they were doing out here in the forest by themselves.

Suddenly, Flugel heard a branch snap.

"...HUH?!"

He quickly sprung out of his tent and summoned a small Minya blade.

"Who's-"

"-AH!"

As he shot out of his makeshift tent, he looked down and saw that a girl fell backwards onto her behind. She whimpered a bit as Flugel got up and decided to get a better look.

"Gulash."

A small orb of light floated over his palm and he brought it closer to the girl.

"Wow."

The light showed her pretty face, one that Flugel never saw before. Her amethyst eyes pierced through him and her long silver hair was almost illuminating with the light.

"H-How p-pretty…"

"Huh?"

The girl seemed to panic hearing him say that to her. She made a mad dash away from him.

"Ah! Wait, I'm not going to hurt you!"

Just then an earth spike bursted out of the ground and almost stabbed Flugel in the face. He fell back and looked up to see the spirit from the day before, hovering over him.

"I suggest you return back home, if you in fact, value your life."

"Tell me who was that?! I just want to know her name!"

"No, go back and do not return."

The spirit hovered away and Flugel sat there stunned...but also determined.

He made a quick return back home and asked his parents about it.

"Silver hair huh? And anything else than that?"

"...Um, I think she had pointed ears?"

His parents froze as they turned to face him better, giving them their theory on what he saw.

"Flugel...I think you saw an elf?"

"Really papa? An elf?! ...Whoa. Don't they live far away from here?"

"Yes, most live in forest cities away from ours...although…"

"Hm?"

"I believe there is one we do business with nearby, across the mountain and near a river."

"Oh? What's it called?"

His father tried to think long and hard about what the place was called. Luckily his wife snapped her fingers and knew it well. Letting Flugel know where he needed to go.

"Elior...Elior Forest."

For the next few weeks, Flugel made various trips into the forest looking for the elf girl he saw. Every single time the red spirit chased him off.

"Leave the young miss be!"

"I just want to talk!"

Then for two days, he used some reverse psychology and he hid away in another section of the forest and watched the spirit look around for him.

"Oh my, he didn't show up again."

And right near him, was the silver haired girl. She looked around, and seemed nervous to be even out there. Then...she finally spoke.

"M-Maybe he was scared of me?"

Flugel felt his heart skip a beat as he heard this soft voice for the first time.

"Nonsense miss! You are much too lovely to frighten someone! We must see this as a good thing instead!"

"G-Good thing?"

"Of course! Now he will not trouble you in the slightest and you will not have to deal with his shenanigans."

"R-Right."

As the silver haired girl and the spirit made their way back into the forest, Flugel kept watching and made a vow to speak with that girl.

Finally he set a trap, he made a fake campsite and made his was around the trees to actually go around and meet behind them.

Once again, the spirit was hovering around the young girl and saw the campsite in the distance.

"So he came back."

"Oh...r-really?"

For the first time, instead of nervousness the girl peeked over and almost seemed curious about it. However the spirit blocked her view and made sure to keep her safe.

"Stay here, I'll send this ruffian packing."

"S-Sure."

The spirit floated away and made it's way to go and probably rough up the campsite. The girl leaned her back on a tree and took a deep breath. She looked up at the sky-

"H-Hello there."

"What?!"

She looked back and saw the young man looking at her with an awkward smile. She yelped and was backing away from him.

"W-Wait I'm not going to-"

"-W-W-W-W-W-What do you want?"

"Nothing, just want to talk."

But as she backed her way she lost her step and was about to fall backwards.

"...!"

"El Ermac."

Flugel used a yang spell to catch her, but he too fell. Satella ended up on top of Flugel, so when she saw this she screamed out of embarrassment, her face completely red.

The red spirit arrived again and hovered over them.

"Miss! Has this man hurt you?! I took pity on you and spared you life but now-"

"-No! Wait! H-He actually helped me just now."

The girl got off of him, letting Flugel get up and pat himself off.

"Ow ow. Hey, are you okay?"

"Y-Yes. I'm doing just fine."

"Good good."

The two stared at each other and simply looked over the situation at hand.

Now both of them blushing as they stared at each other.

"Um-"

"-Eh."

The girl seemed extremely nervous about him. She was fidgeting around, probably not sure of how to speak with him.

"Ahem. It's nice to finally meet you."

Flugel held out his hand to finally introduce himself properly.

"My name is Flugel Nova. I'm a mage who is going to one day be the next Great Sage. It is fantastic to meet you...miss..?"

She seemed frazzled by his approach, she looked up at the spirit, but it just shook around, not giving her any suggestions.

But she took a deep breath and put on an obviously fake brave smile.

And she shook his hands.

"Greetings,

.

.

.

I'm Satella."

"Satella...What a nice name."

"...Thank you."

For the first time since he first saw Satella, she put on a bright splendid smile.

Now Flugel and Satella hung out in the forest every chance they got. She told him that she wasn't really allowed to venture too far away as she had an important duty. Flugel didn't want to figure out what it was, at least not yet. He enjoyed brisk walks, small talks by a small stream and even would have interesting conversations with the spirit...

"So there are four Great Spirits?"

"Yes, Zarestia, spirit of wind, in the west. Melakuera, spirit of fire, in the east. Odglass, spirit of water, in the north. And of course Muspel, spirit of earth, in the south. They are the four spirits that rank highest in the world."

"Wow...but you're pretty great too!"

"F-Flattery is beyond you, young one!"

Even though they had their fun moments, they never went to their actual homes to visit with the other.

So one day, Flugel invited Satella to visit his village, she was incredibly hesitant at first...but he ended up convincing her...giving her his hand to walk her out of the forest.

"Trust me Satella."

"...I-I trust you Flugel."

The visit around the village was quite pleasant, many of the villagers, especially the men were taken aback by her beauty, but whenever they got too close, she always clung onto Flugel.

When he introduced her to his parents, they were more than delighted to meet her.

However his mother brought a good point.

"Um, excuse me Satella-chan... but I couldn't help but notice your ears...are you actually-"

"-Y-Yes, I'm actually a half elf."

Flugel seemed confused by this.

"What do you mean half-elf, Satella?"

"Well, um...my father is...actually a normal human, so I am not fully an elf...sorry for not telling you."

"Apologies not needed! That makes you much more interesting Satella!"

Satella blushed madly and hid her face behind his shoulder. The Nova family couldn't help but chuckle at Satella's cute reaction.

Eventually, Satella took Flugel to visit her own village in Elior Forest, he was mesmerized by the grand structures of the buildings intermingled with some gorgeous scenery. Though he did get stares from the elves that lived there, he was able to be introduced to a friendly one.

"Flugel….this is my sister, her name is Fortuna."

"Hey, what's up!"

Fortuna shook hands with the mage in training and they became good friends.

The three of them were speaking with each other, but something important came up that Flugel just couldn't ignore any longer.

"Satella told me she has a duty she has to attend to, can you tell me what it is?"

Fortuna glanced up at the spirit, before shaking her head and refusing to do so.

"I'm so sorry Flugel, but that's just not going to happen."

"R-Right, it's probably a secret...fair enough."

Sitting next to him was Satella who made a quite determined face.

"F-Flugel...can you come with me...really quick?"

"Um, sure thing."

Satella nervously took his hand and led him away from the forest. Deeper and deeper they went...until they saw it.

"Damn!"

A large white tree that had a huge door on it. Satella reached into her chest and pulled out a key, she then turned the knob. Once she did, the door slowly crept open and a bright light came out. Flugel was nervous at first...but relented and followed Satella inside.

There they were floating in a large space and glanced around for awhile. There they saw it.

A tree. A black one. One larger than anything he had ever seen, it was so big in fact, the he was like an ant looking up at a mighty oak tree.

"Satella, what is this?!"

"My d-duty...is to protect that door from any harm...to also be the one to hand out Authorities to those worthy enough...it is my family's heritage...this is it, the Algol Tree."

"Algol Tree?"

"Mm. This tree has existed since before even the Great Spirits….since before elves awoke on the shores of the world and before the sun itself was given birth….it stretches across time and space itself…"

"Time and space."

Satella held his hand tighter and smiled at him.

"Would you like to see?"

"Huh?"

"We can see other worlds if we follow the branches, I've done it before...but...I'd like to do it with you…"

"S-Sure...I'd love to."

Satella and Flugel followed the branches through the tree, but Satella noticed that Flugel was having a bit of trouble as he clutched his head.

"F-Flugel...we can stop if-"

"N-No...it's fine, I want to be with you, okay?"

Then, they saw everything bending into a void...and they ended up in a strange city. They saw people wearing odd clothing, carriages being driven by strange brown colored animals, then-

"Eek!"

Flugel and Satella were slightly startled by a loud sound in the distance. They looked and saw a large tower with what appeared to be a clock, it made loud bell-like sounds.

"A time tower?"

Flugel then noticed they were getting stares by the local residents, so he took Satella and they booked it.

They found themselves in what appeared to be a marketplace, so they decided to enter one of the shops. There they saw many books that interested them, sure they couldn't read it, but Flugel figured he could use a spell to translate it. They thanked the kind store owners and left.

As they made their way back, Flugel could now see the branch where they had come from, Satella nodded with him and soon they ventured back to their old world.

As they were passing through the void, Flugel glanced over and pointed something out.

"Hey look, what is that?"

"Wow...it almost looks like...a new world is being born…"

As they flew past the scene….the image they saw still continued, a large powerful looking hand had an entire spiral of stars and galaxies dance above its palm. Then it slowly began to close it's hand.

Flugel and Satella returned outside of the door and were able to translate the books. One was a love story called "Romeo and Juliet", which Satella ended up loving. The other was a book of star constellations, so Flugel decided to do something with his new knowledge.

"Hey! If I remember correctly, we never gave you a name."

"I was never given one, even by the previous keepers."

"Then how about we give you a name?"

"Oh?"

Satella and Flugel laughed a bit before finally bestowing the ancient spirit his name.

"From now on, you're Petelgeuse."

"Petelgeuse?"

"Yeah, it's the name of a star, known as the Red Star!"

"Red star...I like it!"

Then, Satella told him about the Authorities.

"How many of these Authorities are there?"

"Not that many, in reality there are about...let's say...nine in general, but each of them has a separate category that can be given to someone as well."

"Oh, so it's more like there are eighteen, but they are all related to each other."

"Yup...also they are all derived from the Algol, the original witches from centuries ago were able to get them. In fact, unlike other spirits, Petelgeuse was born near the Algol Tree, that's why he's so different."

"Wow, that really is-"

Then Flugel's face froze when he heard what he almost wished he could ignore.

"S-Satella?"

"Yes?"

"Did you say...witches?"

"Yes. My only friends...other than you of course...are witches."

"...OH MAN!"

Flugel soon demanded to see the witches. Satella was of course nervous about it, saying that only other one she ever brought was Petelgeuse.

"It's fine as long as you're with me...then it should be all good."

Arriving on a grassy hill, Flugel encountered the Six Witches. He was indeed nervous at first, but he somehow actually got along with them.

Minerva seemed to like his desire to making the world a better place.

Daphne loved how he brought his mother's baked goods for her to eat.

Typhon enjoyed playing with him...and also revealed-

"What the? Is that a horn sticking out of your head?!"

"Yup, I'm a half oni! Flu Flu has never seen one before?"

"Nope, that just makes you more interesting!"

"Yay! Tag then!"

Her immense strength sent Flugel flying through the air...forcing Satella and Minerva to chase him down.

"Oops."

Sekhmet didn't have too much of an opinion on him, but was happy that Satella made a friend outside of her usual comfort zone.

Carmilla was quite against him being there, but relented when he promised not to fall for her Authority...mostly because Satella seemed to block his view of her every so often.

As for Echidna...she seemed quite interested in the man. Mostly because he shared a passion of knowledge and wishing to know more and more.

Echidna would laugh and touch his shoulder out of actual joy.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, they were being watched from a good distance away by Satella.

They continued visiting the tea party which was at least once a month.

Flugel and Satella sat under a lovely tree that overlooked the tea party. Satella nuzzled close to Flugel...he then looked into her vibrant eyes passionately...he leaned in and kissed her.

Their kiss lasted a good few amount of seconds.

They removed each other from the kiss, as Satella happily cried into his arms.

"F-Finally."

"Hm?"

"I have someone who loves me...I'm not really alone…"

"And as long as I'm here...you won't be."

He helped wipe away her tears with his thumbs.

Satella and Flugel just looked up at the bright blue sky up above.

"Our life together starts right here and now, Satella."

"Yes."

Unknown to them a platinum haired girl was watching them from the distance, smiling as she did.

"Oh how perfect."

Ironically, a few months later, Flugel had to leave to the capital for a better education, but promised Satella he would visit often.

Satella understood and gave him her blessings.

"Come back...please…"

"Anything for you."

They gave one last goodbye kiss and Flugel was on his way.

Flugel eventually rose through the ranks of magic and tactical genius, even becoming almost as powerful as the Magrave. He would send letters to Satella, telling her of his progress. She was always delighted to receive them, cherishing them as if they were his treasures.

But...the letters stopped coming, and Satella became anxious. She became quite annoyed. She became afraid…

"Are you frightened of his intentions?"

"...Who is there…?"

Emerging from the nearby shrubbery was a girl that Satella had not seen in years.

"P-Pandora…? But last time…I saw you...you left with your witch teacher Morgana."

"Indeed, but she has since passed and I have now received the Authority of Vainglory."

"So you're the new witch?"

"Yes. Now tell me my dear, what is troubling you?"

Satella quietly told her of the man she fell in love with and how he stopped sending letters.

"Now I unserstand, this Flugel has been quite the endearing man."

"Yes...I hope...that we can truly stay...for-"

"-It's too bad he might be cheating on you."

Satella's face froze as Pandora glanced at the panicking girls face.

"N-No….Flugel would never do that! He said he...loves me...he-"

"-Hasn't there been signs? Maybe, you just ignored it? Maybe, it was too painful for you to think about?"

Unknown to Satella, was that Pandora was now invading her memories and changing them to fit her own agenda.

Satella saw Minerva patting Flugel...now she was cupping his cheek.

"Stop it."

Satella saw Sekhmet whispering something into Flugel's ear...now she was kissing his cheek.

"No please, don't."

Carmilla was peeking over Satella's shoulder to look at Flugel...she then licked her lips at him.

"No more! NO MORE!"

Echidna and Flugel were talking at the table, when they slowly got their faces closer-

"STOOOOOP IT!"

Satella fell to her knees and was crying intensely.

"No...I don't want to lose Flugel...so why? Why would he want to leave me?"

"...Maybe because you are not special in his eyes?"

"Special?"

"Echidna is very intelligent, Minerva is very strong and Carmilla is very lovely. And I'm sure there are many women in the capital that would peek his interest."

"...!"

"So why not peek his?"

Pandora brought out a single black mass from her behind her.

"That's…"

"Yes, the Witch Gene of Envy. I believe this will help in your endeavors."

"But...I don't know if I'm compatible...:"

"Oh well then."

Pandora began moving away making a fake unconcerned face while twiddling the mass on her fingers.

"I guess you're alright with losing your precious Flugel then."

"Ah wait…!"

Pandora stopped and Satella quickly walked over and held out her hands.

"I'll do it."

"Excellent."

Satella took hold of the Witch Gene and took a deep breath. The Witch Gene absorbed into her slowly...she breathed in and out. Took a deep sigh-

"AGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Veins protruded out of her face and blood was spat out of her mouth, she held her chest tight as she began to cry out in pain.

"Looks like it was bad reaction...still…"

Pandora quietly walked away as she glanced back at Satella, dark energy flowing out of her very body.

"I am interested to see what comes of this."

Pandora disappeared and left the ailing Satella to her pain.

"Help me...someone...Fortuna...Petelgeuse...Bellatrix…"

She called on the names of her sisters and the spirit who was her first friend.

Then to the one person she could rely on…

"Flugel...Flugel...my love...the only person I will ever need! PLEASE! HELP ME!"

Satella raised her head as she screamed to the very heavens.

"FLUUUUUUGEL!

Word quickly spread of a half-elf witch that attacked anything that got near her. She absorbed the other witches powers and became a force of unimaginable strength.

"Love me…"

An entire army, ten thousand strong, were sent from Vollachia to deal with her...none of them made it back alive.

"Love me...Love me…"

Odglass and Muspel tried to take her on...but failed and were pushed back.

"Love me...Love me...Love only me…Only me..."

Roswaal's original father Zoroaster Mathers and a contigency army of mages battled her in the skies over the Gusetko mountains...only to all be killed, their bodies falling from the skies above.

"ONLY ME! NO ONE ELSE! LOVE ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME! LOOOVE!"

A flock of dragons related to Volcanica tried to stop her, but were all ripped to shreds by two thousand Unseen Hands.

"LOVE ME...FLUGEL...FLUGEL...WHERE ARE YOU...WHERE IS MY FLUGEL…?"

Elves. Onis. Orcs. Knights. Mages. Every species imaginable. Every class imaginable.

All were absorbed by her.

"I LOVE YOU."

Killed by the Witch of Envy.

Flugel's town was one of many destroyed by her, his mother and father were crushed into paste by her. The other villagers driven mad by her miasma and killed each other.

Flugel saw it.

A baby. Torn in half and left to be eaten by insects.

"BLUAGHH!"

Flugel puked and puked. He cried and cried. He screamed and screamed.

"Why?! WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?!"

Behind him, his two allies quietly watched as their comrade The Great Sage Flugel weeped at the sight before him.

Volcanica, his dark grey skin matching the smoke rising into the sky. His four limbs crotched down, watching it all. His bright fire colored eyes looked over the destruction.

"We were too late. She seems to be heading east now."

His fearsome appearance countered his noble spirit. The two horns that went back casted a shadow over the man below him.

"We really need to hurry this shit up. We can't keep being behind that witch any longer."

Reid said this as he scratched the back of his neck, while holding onto the sword he had gotten help creating. The Dragon Blade Reid. It was indeed quite the example of his ego naming the sword after himself.

Flugel dried his tears and floated over to them.

"We need to hurry...she's heading to the Augria Sand Dunes."

"...Hey, isn't that where the Witch of Gluttony died?"

Flugel held back more tears as he remembered his old friend.

"Yes...and I think that is where we can finally stop her."

Volcanica spread his winged arms wide, their wingspan easily dwarfed the two men below him.

"Then let us make haste!"

Reid jumped up on the dragon's back, while Flugel floated up and stood next to the Master Swordsman.

"Are you okay with this?"

"Hm?"

"You know...we can't let her live right-"

"-WHEN THE TIME COMES WE'LL DECIDE WHAT TO DO."

"...Whatever you say."

The three continued flying towards the destination where the final battle was to occur.

"Finally, you...have come to...be with me…!"

Flugel had a magical barrier up, as countless Unseen Hands were trying to break through.

Flugel could see the Unseen Hands due to his time in contact with the Algol Tree and his unique "attribute" that let him escape certain effects of other Authorities. She pushed him back as the very ground caved in from the pressure. Satella was covered in a ominous dark visage that covered her entire body, except her mouth. Which was smiling with such joy.

"Flugel! You have come! To me and only me!"

Volcanica flew over the clouds and opened his mouth wide, a white orb formed in front of his jaw, then it glowed and shot a vicious storm of fire. It engulfed both of them and everything around them...the flames stretched for miles around.

Luckily, Flugel had his barrier up.

Unluckily, Satella was protected by her black mass.

"Leave us alone…"

The fire was put out and hundreds of Unseen Hands blasted up and chased around Volcanica.

Reid decided to enter the fray and sliced away at the black mass surrounding her body. Then he saw an opening and struck...only for Satella to actually to block it with a kick.

"Stubborn ass woman!"

"Go away…"

Reid was suddenly hit by a powerful blast of air and was sent flying for several yards...then his feet kicked off the sandy ground and he blasted back to face off once against the witch.

He jumped into the air and concentrated, his sword began to glow bright blue and he sliced downward, the resulting impact sent a pillar of light high into the sky.

As the dust cleared and Flugel jumped back from it...Satella emerged from the sand cloud and her eyes narrowed as she looked at them.

"Flugel...STAY AWAY FROM FLUGEL! HE'S MINE! NO ONE ELSE'S!"

Satella encased her right arm in what appeared to be Unseen Hands and something else. The two other looked up and saw Volcanica had summoned his orb light again, but this time fired a pinpoint accurate beam down towards Satella. The beam split up as it made contact with her arm, the other two quickly jumped out of the way as the stray beams shot out in different directions.

They cut mountains in half.

Set forests on fire.

Boiled rivers.

All in all, chunks of this very world were affected by that one blast.

"Get away from us...Leave us alone...Flugel is mine...AND THIS WORLD IS MADE FOR US!"

Several Unseen Hands caught Flugel off guard and wrapped him up.

"Shit! Flugel!"

Reid tried to slice away at them, but suddenly he had to dodge something that sliced the very air in front of him. It wasn't wind magic for sure.

Flugel was dragged towards Satella...he then aimed his palm towards her.

"Al Gamma!"

A giant boomerang made of light shot out, it missed her...but it spun around and hit her in the back, clearly cutting her in half.

"It's alright...Flugel...I still love you…"

"Oh no."

He then saw she was quite fine, as if nothing occurred at all.

She tightened her grip on him and pulled him close, they were now face to face.

Volcanica was still trying to dodge the Unseen Hands as he looked down at the situation.

"No! This is going bad fast!"

Reid fighting a shadowy clone of Satella that had arm blades, as they traded blows the sand underneath them was sent flying up into the air.

"Fuck! Fuck! Get out of my way!"

Petelgeuse the spirit; summoned earth spikes to try and stop the crazed mob from a nearby village from attacking the others.

"Please! Satella-sama! Please cease this! Please!"

Satella brought Flugel in closer...and as she did, he saw as clear as day she was crying her eyes out. She covered her face as she wept, her tears hitting the sandy ground beneath them.

"I'm so sorry...So sorry...I hurt so many people...my...my sisters must hate me...your family...my friends…."

"Satella…"

"But...But I did it…"

She then moved her hands away from her face...revealing a hideous grin plastered on her face.

"I did it all for you…"

"No…"

"For you...Only you. To you. My love. My everything. My first. My last. My Flugel!"

"Satella! Please stop-"

"-If the world wants you I will crush it. If someone needs you, I will take them away! No one needs you but me! ME! ME! You and me…"

She quickly brought him in and gave him a passionate kiss, one filled with hot lust for him. However as she did this, Flugel only shed tears.

As she let go of the kiss, she licked his cheek and rubbed his hair.

"Now...we can go...far away...to a place where we can live in peace…"

She turned around and began opening a portal. The very space warped behind her. She laughed happily, clapping her hands, as she jumped up and down.

"Look! Look! Remember all those trips to that other world we went on?! Remember?!...Remember?...Now we can live there together!"

"Please...Satella, I love you! But I beg of you to please stop!"

"Now then, we can live together….forever! And if they get in our way...then I'll get rid of them too...no one deserves you but me…! Only me...Envy…"

She raced off heading towards the void, her pursuers trying their best to catch up to her, but to no avail.

Flugel freed himself from most of the Unseen Hands using Minya blades, but one was now dragging him by his leg.

"Agh! AHHH!"

"NOW! NOW! WE'RE TOGETHER! FOREVER!"

"SATELLAAAAAAAAAA!"

She smiled insanely as she was about to go through.

"Looks like you could use some help there chum."

Out of nowhere, a huge sonic boom blasted out of the void and zoomed past Satella, then whatever it was, grabbed Flugel and got him a distance away from her.

Reid and Volcanica were shocked to see something move so fast.

As Flugel shook his head he looked up and saw a strangely dressed man wearing a metal helmet with wings.

"Who...are you?"

"Hello there sir, the name is Jay Garrick, though people in my world call me the Flash."

"F-Flash?"

Jay helped Flugel up as they looked each other up and down.

"Those are some odd robes you have there. Are you some sort of magic user?"

"...?!"

"Don't be too tongue tied now. It's alright, we have a magic user on our team. He's one heck of guy too."

Satella glared at them as she summoned more Unseen Hands.

"Who are you...Who are you…?!"

"I get the feeling this young lady, is the cause of all this mess. It's a shame, she is quite pretty."

Satella roared as she let loose her Unseen Hands, but Jay took a deep breath as he began to run. Flugel fell on his behind as he watched Jay run at incredible speed, with streaks of yellow and orange electricity following him. Every one of the Unseen Hands couldn't catch him, making Satella howl in frustration.

"DIE! DIE! JUST DIE! LEAVE US TO OUR LOVE!"

"Funny way of showing love, miss."

Using his super speed, he would kick some sand up in the air as he ran, letting him see the outlines of the Unseen Hands as he continued running at breakneck speed. Satella was about to slice the air, but a huge cosmic blast shot Satella away, then as tried to get up she was then shot with a huge blue beam...everyone recognized it as magic.

Satella stood tall glaring at her new foes.

Volcanica and Reid got behind Satella as they also readied for battle.

And in front of the Witch, emerging from the void she opened...

"Your tampering with the laws of physicality has lead to an event that has been brought to our attention."

"...Go away…"

"I'm afraid we can see that we must aid these individuals in stopping you. By the lords of chaos and order, we shall see you defeated."

Dr. Fate and Stargirl emerged from the void, floating above them all. Jay stopped right in between Volcanica and Reid. He raised his fist up and yelled.

"JSA! Let's go!"

Atom Smasher.

Blue Devil.

Liberty Belle.

Alan Scott the Green Lantern.

Cyclone.

Black Lightning.

Dr. Mid-Nite.

Sandman.

Obsidian.

Citizen Steel.

S.T.R.I.P.E.

Hourman

Jakeem Thunder.

Hawkman.

Together, this large alliance between worlds, formed under the slightest of moments went to battle against Satella.

Satella screamed as she released over two thousand Unseen Hands in every direction.

Flugel was panting for air as the battle was now over...but he was also holding back tears. He looked over and saw the Evil Sealing Stone, inside was a slumbering Satella.

Now trapped inside with the help of Reid, Volcanica and Dr. Fate, this would make it impossible for her to escape out into the real world...but she was still alive.

Reid put a hand on Jay's shoulder as he looked down sadly at the cost for the climactic battle.

"Rest well good friends."

Maxin Hunkel, Libbey Lawrence, Paul Dugan, Jakeem Thunder and Hank Heywood were dead.

Killed in a battle to save a world they didn't even know existed. But they were heroes, and that was what heroes did.

Stargirl was crying as Blue Devil tried to comfort her. The rest of them were looking over their corspes, injured greatly, but able to say some prayers for them.

Reid gave his condolences, in a rare move of humility. Jay thanked him and looked over the area. Even as a desert, the place looked to be clearly the aftermath of a major battle. In the distance, there were plumes of smoke.

"Goodness gracious, I have never faced anything so powerful in my life."

"That Witch of Envy was really something. I hope that sealing stone keeps put."

Dr. Fate floated over to speak the truth of the matter.

"As long as nothing breaks it and it continues to consume, 'mana' from the atmosphere, it shall keep her at bay."

"Can't help but feel that she can still cause a problem."

"Yes, this world must make sure to set up some protection for it. While this place offers little mana, it is still a desert. So you all must make sure to guard it."

"...But she's still alive?"

"...Unfortunately. Even with the sacrifices made, this Satella, still lives and could still cause havoc in this world. So do your best to keep her sealed."

Flugel looked over the stone sadly, in his mind he wished he could have done something different to save the woman he was in love with.

"Flugel Nova."

"...! Oh, Fate-san."

"A word please."

The two of them let the others go over their own plans as they spoke in private.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes...this spell will alter the memories of everyone on my team and on this plane of existence."

"But...they'll forget the witches."

"Only those who were close to them will remember."

"And all this destruction? All this pain and loss?"

"...Satella will be blamed for all of it."

"But...it was Pandora! She forced her! She took my letters...she confused her and-"

"-That is not of my concern."

Flugel furrowed his brows at him.

"I'm sorry. But in the end, this world will remember the destruction had here. So imagine we erase the memories of her existence...what would explain all this death and devastation?"

"...That's…"

"If the relations between the kingdoms are as bad as you say...then their new reformed memories would result in outright blame being placed on each other. This would lead to a World War. Would you prefer that instead?"

"...It's not fair."

"For order and chaos to be balanced...sometimes life must be unfair. Again, I'm sorry."

"No...I understand."

As the other worlders were exiting the void...Fate nodded to Flugel he then touched the Algol Tree Branch that was in front of them. letting Fate know where to touch as well, and firmly grasped it.

Dr. Fate used the entirety of the magic given to him by the Lords of Order, while Flugel used his connection to the Algol and his access to the Witch Gene of Gluttony to cause the desired effect.

Minus themselves, Volcanica, Reid, and a small select few...everyone's memories were altered.

For the Justice Society, the members who died were killed by a rogue alien from another dimension...And for the entirety of Flugel's world, all the devastation they faced was blamed solely on Satella.

"Farewell, I hope we never have to meet again."

The three nodded at Dr. Fate as the void closed in front of him.

The battle ended.

Flugel got to work on creating the Pleiades Watchtower to keep hold of everything and protect the Sealing Stone...but he felt some guilt for what he did to everyone's memories. So he created the Chamber of Memories and using the Unseen Hands he obtained, he created a star that would help grant wishes. Still, he couldn't just let anyone get to it.

So designed it in mind to let only someone with knowledge of the "other world" he visited so many times with Satella, to get by.

With that, he got an apprentice that would help him...a young girl named Shaula.

She would happily help him with his work and even began to hang out with him outside the tower.

She would have long talks with Volcanica about the world and the Algol Tree, learning that he was spawned near the tree thousands of years ago.

She would train in combat with Flugel, though his rough teaching methods made her a bit scared of him at times. Flugel would chastise him for it.

Flugel continued his work, even when he noticed his body didn't age as fast with the use of mana. He knew one day his time would come and that he would perish.

He needed someone to protect the Algol Tree. He remembered how Satella lost the ability to access it from her corruption by the Witch Genes...so now it would fall on another.

Bellatrix's daughter would obviously be the next to be chosen.

So...Flugel taught Petelgeuse how to commit a spell he learned from Echidna's archives.

"A spell to transfer yourself into another's body."

"But the person would cease to exist?"

"Get willing subjects, they'll give themselves to you. We just need you stick around to protect Bellatrix's daughter."

"And how?"

"...I have to start something."

That was the day Flugel started the Witch's Cult...he lied to members and told them that Belltrix's daughter would actually be Satella's shell and a way to bring her back. To protect her at all cost.

Studying the Book of Knowledge, he had copies made to twist destiny, using ink made from branches of the Algol Tree. He needed to do this...Satella needed to rest at peace.

Even if unknowingly, Pandora took advantage and began corrupting other members...and alongside Hector, they created a more vicious sect.

Flugel made Shaula protect the tower, no matter how long it took.

"But will you come back?"

"...Yes, someday I will indeed return."

He gave Shaula a hug and made his way out of the tower…

"How will I know it's you?"

"...Give me a whiff, then you'll know."

He left Shaula to guard the tower as he continued venturing out to find out what else he could do.

He eventually decided to run away from this world. He gave his goodbyes to Volcanica, to a bedridden Reid, Petelgeuse and to his other friends.

The last place he went to was the tree he planted near the highway towards the capital. He smiled at it...thinking how he put the thing there so that one day he could propose to Satella there under it's massive frame.

"I guess it's time."

He decided to leave the world, opened a void and left.

However, that was when Satella chased after him.. in an attempt to grab him, she accidentally brought Yamada Hoshin to their world. In essence, beginning an never ending cycle.

Though he escaped to the other world, he noticed that the friends he met so long ago in the battle against Satella...were nothing but comic characters in his new home. He made a quiet life for himself in the city of Hokkaido and tried to live his life to the fullest...but he couldn't forget Satella. No way he could.

So when his body was old and tired, he summoned himself back to his original home and tried to find his old friends.

But as he wandered the forests near his home, he found a man with an odd haircut ear some hodded men.

"...Flugel?"

"...Oh, I see...Petelgeuse."

Flugel recognized him instantly and sat on a rock as they discussed the state of the world. They joked, argued and even cried a bit. He coughed loudly and scratched his chin.

"So...is Fortuna, alright?"

"Yes, Elior Forest is still standing. Everyone is quite fine."

"...And Bellatrix?"

"...She passed away."

"I see….how tragic…"

"...They did have a child! We're protecting her even as we speak!"

Petelgeuse got teary eyed.

"...Name?"

"From what I heard...her name is Emilia."

"Oh...what a….wonderful name….."

"Flugel?"

"...Satella….let's go walking...-"

"-...Flugel."

Flugel passed away.

Petelgeuse mourned the death of his friend. He swore he would keep his promise to protect Emilia. To prevent the Algol Tree from being misused...and to not allow the Authorities in his body to be misused.

Then of course, as if the cruelty of the world was not enough. Pandora stole pieces of his body and began creating her Sin Archbishops with her captured Witch Genes residing in him.

All...except Pride. It was not found.

Petelgeuse only being able to save the Witch Genes of Sloth.

Something that would haunt them…

Flugel's spirit wandered around a bit...but it saw dark hands reaching out for him...something that delighted him, but also terrified him to no end. So his spirit fled back to the new world. It was losing it's corporal body...until it heard a baby crying.

"Sh-should I?"

It looked down at the baby crying from it's birth….then he decided it.

"I...I have to live...if...someday I see her again. I want to have a body doing so…"

The spirit raced to the window where the newborn was.

"Yes, I need to live so I can one day...see them all again…"

The baby had the affinity for it.

"Poor unfortunate soul...I am sorry...but I have to do this. I CANNOT DIE YET!"

Flugel began his over two hundred years of possessing newborns, just to keep himself alive. He did this again and again.

"Son, can you come here?"

"Sure, grandpa."

A tall muscular young man sat next to his ailing grandfather. He coughed and coughed as he looked up and smiled at him.

"Taikichi-kun, come and listen to a story."

"S-Sure."

The hazel eyed young man listened to his grandpa's obviously senile story of him being a man called Flugel, who was from another world and all the insane things that happened to him.

"You should've written that down as some form of story. Could've been a movie, even."

"Heh, maybe so."

Taikichi left him be as he went to get some snacks.

Taikichi wandered the streets outside of his home in the suburbs of the city, yawning as he contemplated the story.

"So detailed though...grandpa should've been a writer."

Then his vision became blurry so he rubbed his eyes…

"Man, must have somethin' in my-"

When Taikichi opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange city. Filled with carriages, odd animal people and architecture he saw in books about spanish colonial days.

"Huh?"

He fell backwards as he ran through the alleys and streets.

"What the hell is this?! THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!?"

He then thought about the story…

"No...NO! He was telling the truth?! No! NO!"

Taikichi soon ran into some thugs and got into a fight. There and then he lost his left arm. He killed his assailants. Getting the attention of some shady people...he was captured and taken away to be a coliseum fighter.

"Name?"

"N-Nomura Taikichi…"

"...Meh, that's a lame ass name...got something else for us?"

Taikichi remembered how his grandpa was alway interested in stars...so he decided to pick one.

"Al-ALDEBARAN."

Aldebaran's life in this new world had started.

Flugel's spirit was searching the city for his new host. He had just died moments before his grandchild disappeared.

He found the host he was the most suitable with.

He entered the young baby...then it happened.

"Wait. What is this?"

Flugel found he had no control over the boy. He tried with all his might, but simply could not do anything.

"Why?"

The parents of the child looked down at him and his vision became boxed in, like he was watching a movie, that was getting farther and farther away.

"Why?...WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!"

Flugel now found himself in a dark void looking up at a speck of light...unable to do a thing...then he realized it.

"Oh no."

Unlike the other world they once encountered, this world was a parallel one. One that had people with their alternate selves here. Two sides of a coin. Some lived elsewhere, like another country...but here at this very moment, Flugel accidentally possessed his alternate self. Disrupting the magic spell he used for hundreds of years. He was now trapped. Inside this child...

A newborn named Natsuki Subaru.

Flugel now became trapped in this body, unable to do a thing...and so he stopped trying, stopped speaking...stopped thinking.

Satella lost her strength trying to get him back, instead getting his grandchild who she saw value in. With her permission, she gave him a sub trait of the the Authority of Pride. Allowing him to relive a certain amount of time over and over again.

"Love you...still…"

She wanted him, begged for him…

"When I gain enough energy for it...then I'll find you…"

She now knew what to call him, his new name…

"Subaru...Subaru...NATSUKI SUBARU…"

And in less than eighteen years, she would bring him back.

"I Love you."

Subaru coughed loudly as he gripped his chest, his tears stopped as he looked up at Al….No, Taikichi.

"Do you remember now?"

Al was carefully putting his helmet on as his hazel eyes narrowed down at Subaru.

"Do you remember all the people you've fucked over now?!"

"...I…"

Could it be true?

Could his love for Emilia...only have been Flugel's remaining devotion for Satella?

Could his love for Rem….been a remnant of Flugel's desire to not be left alone?

Could the care he gave to Beatrice….be left over feelings of friendship for Petelgeuse?

Could his friendship with Bruce….been only scattered recollections of his encounter with the other heroes from so long ago?

Could any of his feelings have ever been real?

Who was Natsuki Subaru? Was he Flugel? Was he both?

Who was he?

What was he?

Then in the reaches of his mind, he was tumbling down an endless void of despair. Out in the void, hands made of shadows, or maybe even darker than that, reached out to pull him further. He was giving up, he was going to accept.

"Thank you Subaru, for saving me."

Subaru then heard a recognizable voice reach his ears…

"Subaru-kun is Rem's hero."

Two bright hands breached through the void in front of him.

"Subaru-sama."

"Subaru."

Two smaller hands reached out.

"Natsuki-san."

"Boss."

Two other hands breached through.

"Subaru."

"Subaru-sama."

A larger hand and softer hand reached out to him.

"Subaru-dono."

"Subaru."

Two more…

"Barusu."

"Kid."

Two more…and more, more, more. Until finally a literal army of hands reached out to him. Subaru gritted his teeth...then wiped away his tears.

He reached out and all of the hands grabbed his shaking palm and pulled him back.

"Yeah, I remember...that this Flugel dude, messed up a lot."

"..."

"Get this through your head Al, no matter what you or anyone else says. I am...ME."

Subaru now stood straight, clenching his fists as he looked up at him. Tears still soaked his cheeks, but he put on a brave face, even giving a defiant smile.

"I am Natsuki Subaru! Knight of Emilia! Friend of Batman! Hero to the blue oni Rem! Contracted with the Great Spirit Beatrice! I am not Flugel! I am me!"

"...!"

"Nothing will change that. I know where my heart belongs to. And I know where this life of mine ends."

"...What a peppy guy you are."

"Heh, you got that right."

Al scratched his neck, before sighing loudly.

"Besides, it doesn't matter, we're both here, so we should learn to get along I guess."

"...I guess."

Al then shook his head and went back to his carefree attitude.

"Well get yourself tidied up! The princess wants to see you in a few."

"Okay then..."

"And remember no funny business...or else."

Al playfully makes a line across his neck. Subaru smirked at this.

"Oh please, like I'm even scared."

"...I'll bet."

Al opened the door and on the other side was Schult. Schult bowed as he handed Subaru some moist towels and some water.

"See ya soon, kyoudai."

"...Yeah, later."

Al exited the room while clenching a fist.

Subaru wiped his face down.

"Puwah! Thanks for that...um, Schult right?"

"That's right. You are most welcome Natsuki Subaru-sama. Now I must make my leave, please by nice to my lady."

"Hey, if anything I'm hoping she's nice to me!"

Schult bowed...but as he turned around Subaru wanted to know if Schult knew any secrets about the place he was in.

"Maybe a scret escape route, something I can use? Something? Anything?"

He then activated Fanatical Snatch and grabbed a large piece of dark aura. He ate it and gained the info-

"-Wait….This is…"

Schult overheard this and turned around.

"Is something the matter?"

"Oh nothing, thought something was in my shoes."

"I see…"

Schult left the room, not seeing Subaru's glaring visage.

"That...little shit…"

Subaru saw it. The young butler's deep, dark secret.

"That little shit...HE'S A SPY."

Batman and the others were making their way to the mansion...when he received a call on his comm link.

"Otto? What is it?"

"Bat-Batman-dono...something is happening."

"What?"

"...We think there are intruders in the mansion."

Batman stopped dead in his tracks as he realized the severity of the situation at hand.

The Blacksnake passed over a large hill as it set it's sights on mansion in the horizon.

Otto was looking up at the ceiling as he saw the ninjas descend on him, but one was kicked away by Sarah, while another was judo tossed out a window. They were soon surrounded by them.

"Otto-sama are you alright?!"

"Yes I am, but how did they get in?!"

Otto looked around and held Petra close. Just then, he saw Deathstroke come up behind him.

"Ah Slade! You are just in time! Some intruders have made it inside!"

"I know."

Otto the felt sharp pain from behind himself...looking down he saw it.

Petra felt something wet and warm on her shoulder...looking up she saw it.

Deathstroke stabbed Otto through his shoulder.

"...HK!"

"I know oldboy….BECAUSE I LET THEM IN."

Everyone now felt a surging pain in their hearts...as they now realized Deathstroke had betrayed them all.

Revelations. Disasters. Betrayal. Everything was falling into place to bring the Emilia Camp into absolute devastation.