Chapter 54

Aigis, Pyrrha, Yu and Ruby stood before the glowing door that would take them to Thanatos. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous." Pyrrha admitted.

"I think we're all nervous." Yu said. "It's not every day the fate of the world rests in your hands. I mean, this isn't the first time I've been in this position, but it is the first without the rest of my team."

"We're four people." Ruby said. "We make a team. We just need a name."

"How about P-Y-R-A, Pyrrha." Aigis suggested.

"Does that make me team leader?" Pyrrha asked. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that. You all have significantly more experience with this sort of situation."

"We're all leaders." Yu said. "And who cares about experience? You're strong, in body and soul. We all are or we wouldn't be here."

"So, team, are we ready?" Ruby asked. She was bursting with excitement and nervous energy. "I know I am."

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Pyrrha said.

"Ready." Yu said.

"Then we will delay no longer." Aigis declared. She stepped forward and opened the door. Blinding white light poured out. One by one the Heroes stepped through.

Normally traveling into and out of shadow worlds or between universes was an unpleasant experience. It was exhausting, disorienting and sometimes even painful. This time was different. No sooner had each Hero stepped through had they found themselves in a bizarre new world. The sky was black and filled with stars - normal enough - but the ground looked like stained glass arranged in geometric patterns. The ground appeared to fade away after a short distance, but movement in any direction caused more of the same patterns to appear, making the space seem infinite. Behind the quartet, the door was nowhere to be seen. Not far ahead they could see a figure in a seated position. They approached with caution.

It was indeed Thanatos. He was sitting casually on an invisible throne. At the Heroes' approach he stood, a smug smile on his face. "So you slaughtered your friends." He said. "That was a bold choice. What point is there in saving the world if you have no one to share it with?"

"Actually we beat up Hypnos until he released his control on them." Pyrrha said. "Did you really think we wouldn't figure it out?"

A momentary look of surprise swept over Thanatos' face but he quickly regained his composure. "Well then, you must be wondering where they are." He said. "They're dead. Only the chosen can survive in this place."

"Wrong again." Ruby said. "Hypnos warned us. He didn't want to end up like his sister so he switched sides."

"Backstabbing…" Thanatos said through gritted teeth. "After I deal with you I shall deal with him. His end will be much harder than Eris'."

"You will not be leaving here." Aigis said. "We will defeat you. We will destroy you."

"I'll be doing the destroying thank you." Thanatos said. "It's not too late to submit you know. If you willingly give up your lives I will spare your friends."

"Spare them for what?" Pyrrha asked. "To live in a wasteland? To live in a world ruled by you? No, they would prefer death. We will not submit."

"Very well." Thanatos said. "You will fall to me and your worlds with you." Thanatos held his arms straight out to his sides and levitated into the air. He was bathed in blinding white light. When the light faded, Thanatos floated there transformed. His transformation was far more extreme than either of his siblings'. He kept his face, Ryoji's face, but that was about it. He was now gigantic, at least four times taller than before. Having originally been about as tall as Pyrrha, his new stature was truly terrifying. Gone was the neat suit he had been wearing. He was shirtless, revealing large and defined muscles. A wreath of poppies hung around his neck. He wore tight pants that ended at the ankle above bare feet. Sprouting from his back were wings, similar in appearance to butterfly or moth wings. A colossal straight, double-bladed sword hung from his hip.

"Why do gods always insist on becoming gigantic?" Yu asked hypothetically. "It just makes them easier to hit."

"Your strikes are but pinpricks." Thanatos boomed.

"You can die from pinpricks." Pyrrha said.

"And you will die by my hands!" Thanatos declared. He drew his sword. "Your reckoning is at hand." Thanatos held his sword vertically in front of him and waved his free hand toward the four. A circle of impossible blackness appeared below them. Ruby, Aigis and Pyrrha rushed out of the circle, each heading in a different direction. Ruby zipped left with her semblance, Pyrrha went right as fast as she could sprint and Aigis charged straight at Thanatos. Yu stood his ground as the circle collapsed. Yu was unaffected.

Aigis ran at Thanatos, firing her guns as she approached. Thanatos slashed at her with his sword but Aigis was easily able to leap over the attack. Aigis reached out her hands toward Thanatos and flames shot from her palms. Thanatos slammed down to the ground on his feet, the shockwave throwing Aigis back. Thanatos was unable to take advantage as Pyrrha and Ruby simultaneously attacked him from opposite sides, firing their guns at him. Lightning flew from Yu's fingertips, arcing through the air and into Thanatos. Thanatos held out his sword and spun around. A powerful blast of wind shot out in all directions, blasting the Heroes off their feet and pushing them back.

Aigis helped Yu to his feet. "Are you alright?" Aigis asked.

"I'm fine." Yu said. Aigis nodded and charged toward Thanatos. Yu emptied his rifle at the god.

Towering monster or not, Pyrrha was going to attack. She aimed and threw her spear. It stuck in Thanatos' gut. She ran forward, jumped, grabbed the weapon and while ripping it out used it to launch herself higher toward the shadow's chest. Pyrrha stabbed furiously at the shadow, gouging tiny cuts into the god that oozed black sludge. With a sweep of his arm Thanatos smacked Pyrrha away, sending her sailing through the air. Ruby zipped back and forth through Thanatos' legs, slicing at them as she passed. Another stomp forced her back as Aigis arrived for an attack of her own. A spectral spear appeared in Aigis' hand. She leapt up, pushed higher by her rocket boosters, and thrust the spear into Thanatos' chest. She pushed off and sailed away as the spear exploded, leaving a decent sized oozing wound. Thanatos roared and raised up his hands. Electricity shot out in all directions, hitting all the Heroes. Yu and Pyrrha were unaffected but the attack hit Aigis and Ruby hard.

Pyrrha found she had an ability she did not previously know about. Preparing to throw her spear again, she pointed her hand at Thanatos. The electricity that had hit her arced from her hand at struck Thanatos, stronger than when it had hit her. She made a mental note of the ability, as did all the others, then threw her spear as planned. It flew high and fast, hitting Thanatos in the eye. Thanatos groaned and ripped the weapon out. He threw it back at Pyrrha with incredible speed but she easily caught it. Thanatos thrust his free hand out at Pyrrha and ice instantly encased her. He flew over and raised his sword to smash her.

Ruby zipped up and down Thanatos' back, slashing at his wings with Crescent Rose. Thanatos spun around but she was fast enough to stay behind him as he turned. Aigis rushed up to Thanatos and fired her guns into him. She raised her hands over her head and brought them down. Spectral arrows appeared above Thanatos and rained down on him, cutting into his flesh before fading away. Yu charged forward. Aigis spun around and crouched, cupping her hands in front of her. Yu jumped, planted his foot in Aigis' hands, and Aigis threw him up and at Thanatos. He stabbed his sword into Thanatos' chest and charged it with electricity. Current surged through Thanatos and for a moment he convulsed. Quickly regaining control of his body, Thanatos swept both hands out to his sides and fired erupted all around him. Yu was blasted back through the air in a high arc. Aigis ran under him, caught him and placed him down on his feet. Meanwhile Ruby used her semblance to flee the fire. Interestingly, the flames were swept up in her wake, leaving a trail behind her as she escaped. The fire also had the convenient effect of melting some of the ice that encased Pyrrha. It was enough to allow her to break free.

Thanatos was done reacting. He went on the offensive. Pyrrha was closest at hand. He lifted his blade over his head and brought it crashing down. Pyrrha did not have time to dodge but she did get her shield up. It prevented her from being sliced in two but she was slammed down onto her back by the tremendous force of the strike. Ruby chose the wrong moment to leap into an attack as Thanatos spun around with stunning speed. A sweep of his blade caught Ruby midair and sent her slamming down to the ground. She bounced and rolled to a halt near Pyrrha. Thanatos next charged toward Yu and Aigis. They launched electricity and fire at him but Thanatos ignored the attacks. A single sweep of his blade caught both and sent them flying. They also came to rest near Pyrrha and Ruby. None of them had any aura left.

With all his opponents weak and in one place Thanatos prepared to finish them off. He raised a palm to the sky and a glowing ball of energy appeared above the Heroes. He clenched his fist and brought it down. The ball of energy matched the action and shot downward onto the Heroes. There was a blinding flash and a thunderous explosion. As light filled the space Thanatos landed, exhausted by the powerful attack. To his shock the Heroes still stood when the light faded.

Aigis hunched over and the spectral shields surrounding the Heroes faded away. "I do not think I can do that again." Aigis said. "Luckily, I do not think Thanatos can repeat his attack either. At least he will not be able to for some time."

"We need to finish him off." Pyrrha said. "We're doing damage but not fast enough." Thanatos was indeed covered in oozing wounds, and though exhausted he showed no signs of stopping.

"I have a plan, but I need everyone's help." Yu said. "Pyrrha, it looks like you can amplify electricity." She nodded. "I'm going to shock you and you're going to shock Thanatos."

"I'm ready when you are." Pyrrha said.

"Ruby and Aigis, I need you to create a whirlwind of fire around Thanatos." Yu said. "We need to weaken him and hold him in place so Aigis and I can finish him off."

"Got it." Ruby said.

"Alright, let's do it." Yu said. He stretched his hand out at Pyrrha and blasted her with electricity. If she felt any pain she did not show it, waiting for as much charge to build up as possible. Ruby zipped off in a blur and a flurry of rose petals, running circles around Thanatos. Aigis reached her hands out and fire shot from her palms, hitting the stream of air trailing Ruby. Soon the flames were all around Thanatos, growing taller in a swirling firestorm. Yu had given all he had so Pyrrha unleashed the built up electricity in a blinding blast of lightning. Thanatos was not visible through the flames but the Heroes heard him cry out in agony as the massive charge surged through him.

"Let us finish this." Aigis said. She stopped pouring fire into the flaming tornado and raised a hand over her head. Yu did the same and two glowing balls of energy appeared above Thanatos. They clenched their fists and brought them down and the balls of energy descended, striking Thanatos in a blinding flash and a thunderous explosion. The shockwave blew the fire out and knocked all the Heroes off their feet.

When the light faded Thanatos remained. He had however returned to his human form, lying motionless on his back. The Heroes approached cautiously. "How?" Thanatos asked. "How?! How could I fall to them?!"

"Hubris, Thanatos." Aigis said. "It will be the downfall of us all."

"Shut up." Thanatos hissed. He spit on Aigis. "Kill me. Or do you not have the guts?"

"Would you like to do the honors?" Pyrrha asked, handing her spear to Aigis.

"It's time for you to pay for the pain you caused." Yu said.

"Yeah!" Ruby shouted. "Slay the monster!"

Aigis held the spear over Thanatos' heart. She hesitated. "Maybe...maybe we should not kill him." Aigis said. She withdrew the spear and handed it back to Pyrrha. "If we do, would we be any better than him?"

"Damnit." Yu said. "You might be right."

"We can't just leave him." Pyrrha said. "He's too dangerous."

"But what can we do if we don't kill him?" Ruby asked.

"I think I can help with that." Margaret said.

Yu was startled and jumped a bit. "How do you do that?" He asked. There was Margaret, standing behind him, a glowing blue door just behind her. "Your door glows and we still never notice your arrival."

"I guess I only arrive when you're occupied." Margaret laughed. "I am relieved to see you all alive and well. I was worried when I was unable to contact you or reach that world. Now that Thanatos has been defeated, he can no longer block my intervention."

"How do we know it's really you?" Ruby asked. "Hypnos lured us here by pretending to be you."

Margaret smiled deviously and stepped up to Yu. "Close your eyes, please." She said. Yu looked a bit nervous but did so. Margaret leaned in and kissed him passionately. After holding the kiss for what seemed like a bit too long, she leaned back, the same devious smile on her face. "Has that asuaged your doubts?"

"Okay, you're the real Margaret." Yu said, his face bright red.

"Holy crap, you really do get around." Ruby gasped.

"Uh, yeah, can you guys do me a favor and never mention this to anyone." Yu said.

"I would make the same request." Margaret said. "It would be quite the scandal if word got out that I would do something as indecent as kissing a guest."

"Your secret's safe with us." Pyrrha promised.

"Oh for the love of...would somebody please just kill me?" Thanatos asked.

"You are not getting off that easily." Aigis said. She roughly picked up Thanatos. "Lead on Margaret."

"Man, just waiting here is boring." Akihiko complained.

"It's only been a few minutes." Mitsuru said. "Have some patience."

Akihiko looked around for something to do. He could at least use the time to get some training in. Then he remembered an old promise. "Hey Yang." He said.

"What's up?" Yang asked.

"You promised you'd spar with me." Akihiko said. "I know we just fought but I wasn't in control so I don't think that counts."

"I promised I'd spar with you if you followed the doctors' orders." Yang said. "Mitsuru, did he hold up his end of the bargain?"

"Mostly." Mitsuru admitted. "He wasn't happy about it but he did what they said."

"Alright then, let's do this." Yang said. "Anything's better than just sitting here worrying."

"Nice." Akihiko said. He found a spot on the arena floor a little distance away from the others that had not been damaged by the recent fighting. "So, what rules?" He asked. "Boxing, kickboxing, no holds barred?"

"Boxing sounds good." Yang said. "Bare knuckles, no weapons." She took off her gauntlets and tossed them to Blake. "Do you have any stipulations?"

"No auras." Akihiko said. "Hey Naoto, you're impartial. Take our auras down would you?"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Naoto said. "Mitsuru?"

"Just do it." Mitsuru sighed. "Let him get this out of his system."

"Alright." Naoto said. "Brace yourselves." She blasted Yang and Akihiko with a powerful gale until their auras failed. "There you go. I suppose I should serve as referee as well."

"I don't think we'll need one, but sure." Yang said.

"Are you both ready?" Naoto asked. Yang and Akihiko nodded. Naoto held her hand out between them and quickly pulled it out of the way. "Begin."

Akihiko leapt forward and fired off a flurry of punches at Yang. She blocked his strikes and pushed inside his effective range. Yang punched him in the gut then jumped back and uppercutted him in the jaw. Akihiko fell flat on his back, his eyes glazed over, a soft moan emanating from his throat. Naoto stepped in between the combatants and waved her hands over Akihiko. Yang raised her hands over her head in triumph.

Mitsuru walked over and knelt next to Akihiko with a heavy sigh. "Are you happy now?" She asked.

"What happened?" Akihiko groaned.

"You got knocked out." Mitsuru said. "She totally outclassed you."

"I guess I'll have to train harder then." Akihiko said.

"How did I know you'd say that?" Mitsuru sighed.

The door to Thanatos opened, bathing the arena in light. Everyone looked to it nervously, waiting to see who emerged. The first through was Margaret. She was followed by Yu, then Aigis carrying Thanatos, Ruby and finally Pyrrha. Everyone crowded around with hugs and cheers for all.

"Why is Thanatos still alive?" Hypnos asked.

Margaret walked up to Hypnos. "Don't ever pretend to be me again." She said. She started to turn away then turned back and punched him in the side of the head.

"Ouch...I guess I deserved that." Hypnos said. "I won't be messing with you guys again. I promise."

"We could not just kill Thanatos." Aigis said. "Fortunately, Margaret has come up with a suitable punishment."

"Bring him here." Margaret said, standing in the center of the arena. Aigis carried Thanatos over and dropped him on the ground at Margaret's feet. "This place will be your prison." Spectral chains surged up from the floor, wrapping all around Thanatos and pinning him to the floor. Margaret and Aigis backed up and a series of cages appeared to surround him.

"What if he escapes?" Yang asked. "I don't want any of us to have to go through this again."

"After we depart, I will seal this world off." Margaret said. "He will have nowhere to go."

"What should we do about Hypnos?" Labrys asked. "He helped us, but he's still evil."

"I already promised I wouldn't mess with you guys again." Hypnos protested.

"You won't mess with anyone." Margaret said. "That is unless you want to share your brother's fate."

"I know a credible threat when I hear one." Hypnos said. "You won't be hearing from me again."

"Good." Margaret said. "Now that this is resolved, I can return you all to your homes."

"Already?" Rise complained. "We always have to say goodbye so soon."

"I've been preventing the flow of time so you would not be missed." Margaret said. "It is difficult, so I would prefer it if you hurry."

"We understand." Blake said.

"I hope we get to see you guys again." Nora said. "I mean, under better circumstances."

Two doors appeared, one on either side of Margaret. "Earth, Remnant." She pointed to each in turn.

"Keep being awesome." Yosuke said with a wave.

"I'm sure we'll meet again." Ruby said. "Good luck!"

Epilogue

Teams RWBY and JNPR stepped through the door and found themselves in Team JNPR's room. It was just as they had left it. "Well, that was certainly an experience." Pyrrha said. "It's going to take me a long time to get over all that, if I ever do."

"Don't be so pessimistic." Nora said. "It all turned out great!"

"Yeah, it was really rough for a while there, but it all worked out." Ruby said. "And I think we're all better friends for it."

"I must admit that saving the world was quite a thrill." Pyrrha said.

"That's the spirit." Yang said. "We should stay positive."

"That's easy for you to say." Blake said. "You weren't dead."

"Oh it wasn't that bad." Nora said.

"I just hope that all my deaths are that temporary." Jaune said.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving." Ruby said. Everyone looked to Ren.

Ren sighed. "I'll make some pancakes." He said.

"Yay!" Nora cheered.

"I guess if you guys are going to be happy, I should be happy too." Blake relented.

"Yeah, and we've got a lot to look forward to." Weiss said. "The tournament's only a few days away. We'll have a great time."

"There's no doubting that." Ruby said. "I can't wait!"

Team YYRN and the Shadow Operatives arrived back on Earth, finding themselves atop the hill overlooking Inaba. "I can't believe Yang knocked me out so easily." Akihiko said. "What's wrong with me? She was even injured."

"You were dead for a while there." Labrys reminded him. "That might have something to do with it."

"That's true." Akihiko said. "Maybe it was a fluke. No, I can't treat it like that. I need to get stronger!"

"You need to get back for your classes." Mitsuru said. "Don't think you can take the day off just because you helped save the world."

"You don't let up do you?" Akihiko said. "Well Aigis, I guess we should get going then. You can tell me about fighting Thanatos on the train ride."

"I will see you later." Aigis said as she and Akihiko separated from the others.

"Labrys and I should be going as well." Mitsuru said. "The sooner we get her repaired the better."

"It was nice to see you all." Labrys said. "We should hangout some time, maybe when the world isn't hangin' in the balance."

"That sounds good." Yu said. "Take care you two." Mitsuru and Labrys departed, leaving YYRN alone.

"Well partner, you saved the world again." Yosuke said. "This must be getting routine for you."

"I don't know about that." Yu said. "And I couldn't have done it without you."

"I was dead most of the time, so I think you would have been fine." Yosuke said. "Anyway, I'm sure you three have a lot to talk about. I'll leave you too it."

"See you later." Yu said.

"Don't be late or I'll tell the others about you and Naoto's date." Yosuke said as he walked off.

"You two probably want to finish your date, so I'll get out of your hair." Rise said. She started to walk away.

"Wait." Naoto said. Rise stopped and turned around. "I was thinking about what the shadow version of me said in there."

"Don't worry about it." Rise said. "I won't stand between the two of you."

"Hold on, let me finish." Naoto implored. "I was thinking that there has to be some sort of arrangement that will make everyone happy."

"What do you mean?" Rise asked.

"I'm not so insecure or needy that I need Yu all to myself." Naoto replied. "If it would make you happy…"

"Naoto, do you realize what you're proposing?" Yu asked.

"I do." Naoto answered. "As happy as I am now, and as much as I would love it if it were just you and me, I can't stand the idea that my best friend is in pain. With some clearly defined boundaries I'm sure we could work something out."

"You two have a good thing." Rise said. "I don't want you to jeopardize that for me. I'll be fine, really."

"We could at least try." Naoto said. "I want you to share the happiness we have. If that means I need to make some sacrifices, I'm willing to do so."

"Maybe we should get Yu's opinion on this." Rise suggested.

As much as he wanted to shout 'jackpot' Yu realized that it was not a good idea. He was also not without reservations. "Let's give it a shot and see what happens." Yu said.

"I don't know about you two, but I'm starving." Rise said. "What do you say we go to my grandmother's and Naoto and I make something for you?"

"That sounds fantastic." Naoto agreed.

Yu shuddered. "What have I gotten myself into?"

END

Author's Note:

I apologize for ruining this comedy ending with something heartfelt, but here goes.

This story - all 54.5 chapters, 358 pages and eight months it took to write - is dedicated to Monty Oum, as is everything I will ever write.

If you're reading this on the day it's posted, February 1, 2016, you're probably aware that today is significant. This day a year ago was the first time in my adult life that I cried. It's been a difficult year for a lot of us, and I'm no exception. But I'm not that important. I must thank Monty for all he did, for the worlds he created, for the inspiration he provided. Through them he achieved something most can never hope to, immortality. The end of every journey is but the beginning of the next.

As much a creator as any god, as inspirational as any orator, and yet as kindly and humble as anyone who ever lived. The world is brighter for his having lived in it. Thank you Monty, for everything.

Keep Moving Forward.

I'll close with a request to everyone reading this: Today is a difficult day for many. Please be respectful.