The moment you've all been waiting for, Link finally faces what he's done!

Link had dozens of eyes on him, but it felt like millions. The faces had many expressions. Surprise, shock, disappointment, anger, hatred, vindictive glee, murderous intent, confusion, and… relief? No, that last one couldn't be right.

"Well?" Armory asked. "Say something."

Link struggled to find the right words. "I- I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't want to ki-kill anyone. I didn't want to cause all this destruction. I've never felt so awful in my life. I know I ruined everything. I only keep going because things will be even worse if I don't stay to fix as much as I can."

He turned to Peter s. Nachbar. "You told me to keep going. So I have. Even though I could never come close to undoing what I did."

"So what did you mean to do?" Nitesco asked. "You broke into the APCM, so you were clearly doing something major and illegal."

"I have an idea," MacGregor muttured.

"It was such a stupid idea," Link said. "I wanted to start Ship Survivor III early. I couldn't stand waiting four months, so after I drank away all my common sense, I tried to summon the Anomaly Surge right then and there. But something went wrong and the power core exploded."

"You mean you went and did that even after you decided to ask the mods to host your own contest?" Armory asked. "What were you thinking?!"

"Not much," Link said. "I was drunk. But that's no excuse." He looked down. "Do whatever you want to me, I can't blame you."

The various people in the room started talking to each other about what punishment would fit, each one being more cruel and unusual than the last.

"Forty lashes."

"Life in prison."

"Hanging."

"Beheading."

"Electrocution."

"Burned at the stake."

"Fed to rats."

"Incinerated in a Bragg explosion."

"Drawn and quartered."

"Forced to read Coeur Al'Aran every day for the rest of his life."

"ENOUGH!" Peter s. Nachbar shouted, silencing the room. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves. He's been here since the beginning of RUBES, hiding behind a mask, but still doing everything he can to improve our situation, and risking his life every day. If it hadn't been for him, Taco Lord, Venom Ahab, and many others would be dead just from today's battle, never mind all the others.

"It takes enormous courage to not only keep going but to do so much after such a terrible mistake, and admit to all of it in front of you. And a mistake it was. You may not like it, but any one of you could have and still might make a mistake like that.

"So before you grab your instruments of torture, maybe try to show a little empathy and compassion, instead of turning into a barbaric lynch mob. We should be better than this."

The others bowed their heads in shame, and started apologizing.

"Peter, thank you," said Link.

"You're very welcome. I knew you were here the whole time, but I didn't want to lose a valuable member by blowing your cover."

"Well said," Alfonse said. "So, what's our next move?"

"Sugar Overcharge would not cooperate," said Austin. "Much as it pains me, we'll have to defeat them to get closer to the APCM."

"That is unfortunate," said Nitesco. "But we knew this wouldn't-"

Just then the door slammed open, and Rosa Cossette Freedom D'Elise walked in. Her normally pristine uniform was dirty with soot and mud, as were her hair and face. Still, her eyes shone with a ferocity that maintained her regal air despite the dirt. Several people stepped back in fear.

"Kyle is alive," she said. "Tragic Solitude and the forces of Mechanical Might are holding him prisoner on a marine island five miles from the mouth of the Gunn River. They are part of the reason the Arkosians are not here to help you. Mechanical Might is likely to attack RUBES at any moment. We need to strike first and rescue Kyle before that happens."

"Look, lady," said Armory. "You can't just barge in here and expect to hijack this Alliance just to get your fuck buddy back, especially when you have no prior history with us."

"Armory, be nice," said Nachbar. He turned to Rosa. "Unfortunately, he does have a point. While we would love to get the last Arkos Oligarch back, we do have other plans and strategies, and we can't just put them all on hold just for him."

Rosa was glaring at Armory and was about to draw her pistol with her left hand and her saber with her right, but she stopped to address Peter. "Mechanical Might is still a threat to RUBES. Tragic is unstable, she will not be satisfied with possessing that island. Her forces are preparing to attack."

"We don't necessarily have to put everything on hold to help her," said MacGregor. "We still have several strong Meme Ships in our Alliance. If Guns N' Roses goes to take down Mechanical Might, the rest of you can deal with Sugar Overcharge."

"I'd love to help," said JMHS Rowing. "Provided that I can sink Position of Power on the way there, I'll bring my last torpedo boat, and the Guns N' Roses troop transport. Peter, is that okay?"

"Yes," he said. "It seems we have a new plan. Guns N' Roses will deal with Mechanical Might and Position of Power, while the rest of our offensive forces attack Sugar Overcharge. Austin, you can stay here with the defense if you want, since I know you hate attacking cargo ships, I can go instead."

"Thank you," said Austin.

In the Position of Power submarine

"And then I told him, 'Am I an asshole, yes, I've said is many a time. But I do have a soul, for your information,'" said Celtic.

Branwen laughed. "That's great, I wish I'd been there."

"It was pretty intense," said Celtic. "But I'm glad I've changed tactics since then. If you're too big and noisy, everyone will target you."

"That makes sense," said Branwen. "Especially with a title like 'Revengeance Raid.' Still, it must have been one hell of-"

Just then, the submarine rocked with an explosion. Water rushed in from another room, and the lights started flickering.

"Shit, what was that?!" Branwen shouted.

"We've been torpedoed," said another crew member. "The whole engine room is open to the sea, we're going to sink!" They and the other crew members started climbing out the hatch.

"Damn it, what did I do this time?! Celtic asked. By the time the rest of the crew had climbed out, the control room was half underwater. As the highest ranking, he and Branwen had to be the last to leave.

Back on the surface

Rowing, MacGregor, Rosa, and several others watched from the torpedo boat as the Position of Power crew climbed out of the sinking submarine.

"Hey, what gives?" Celtic asked as he climbed out of the hatch. The last exposed part of the submarine went under moments later, plunging him and the rest of the crew into the ocean. "We didn't do anything to you!"

"You didn't do anything for us, either," said Rowing. "Thousands of people drowned the other day, because your submarine sat there and did nothing after the Poptart Passion and Very Useful Lesbian sank each other."

"We had no idea that battle was even happening," said Celtic. "We were all asleep. We didn't find out until much later. No one even tried to contact us for help."

"I suppose it wouldn't have hurt to have someone keep watch," said Branwen. "Still, this is unfair."

"I just can't win," said Celtic. "If I'm proactive, everyone targets me. If I mind my own business and don't threaten anybody, people attack me anyway."

"We'll find a new ship," said Branwen. "As soon as we get out of the water."

"Right," said Celtic, "assuming they're not just going to let us drown." He turned back to the torpedo boat and the troop transport. "Please help us out."

"Like you helped us out?" Rowing asked.

"Haven't you gotten enough revenge already? We didn't even know what was happening. If you let us drown it's murder."

Branwen spoke up. "Says the person who started the 'Revengean-"

Celtic splashed him. "Do you have no tact?!"

"This is going too far," said Rosa. "Cruelty helps no one." She turned to the troop transport. "Give them a lifeboat."

The troop transport, a modified four funnel ocean liner, lowered one of their lifeboats.

"Thanks for that, at least," said Celtic, as he and the others in the water climbed into the boat. His eyes widened as he saw who it was that helped him. "Come on, let's find a new turtle hole." They began rowing (Heh) to shore.

"Was that really necessary?" MacGregor asked. "Revenge just breeds more revenge."

"All right, I get the point," said Rowing. "Let's just finish what we set out to do."

On the island

Tragic and Strike were making out again, in a more heated session than ever before.

"I love you, Strikey," said Tragic, after catching her breath. "Do you want to take this to the bed?"

She'd asked many times, but Strike always refused. This time, though, he said; "Yes, let's. I lov-"

The door slammed open, and Ebullient Prism burst in. "Sorry to interrupt, but there is an invasion force on our shores! You've really done it this time, Tragic!"

"An invasion force?!" Tragic and Strike exclaimed. "Done what?" Strike asked.

"It's those damn RUBES forces," said Prism.

Tragic groaned. "We'll be combat ready in minutes. I'll go get in my mech, you rally the troops."

"Troops are already rallied," said Prism, and ran back out the door.

"Excellent," said Tragic. She turned to Strike. "Let's find you a plane."

On the beaches

Thousands of Guns N' Roses troops poured out of the modified ocean liner and onto the beach, while the torpedo boat and the troop transport's deck guns fired against the enemy troops. The enemy fortifications, consisting of sandbags, boulders, and sharpened wooden stakes, were no match for the overwhelming force.

"We must press on," MacGregor shouted to his troops. "It's your best chance of survival, if you turn around you'll be shot in the back for sure."

Soon, a high-ranking enemy officer called out to them with a megaphone from a hidden position.

"This is lieutenant Ebullient Prism of Mechanical Might. We have done nothing to you, please retreat and there will be no more casualties. No one else needs to die today."

"My spies have informed me you are planning to assault RUBES," Rosa replied. "And even more unforgivable, you have abducted my husband. Return him at once or face dire consequences!"

"We were never planning to assault RUBES," said Prism. "Only to stay on the defensive here until the war ends."

"Actually, that's not quite true," said Tragic, arriving in her mech. "We were going to conquer RUBES once we had a big enough force, and they were worn down from fighting their other opponents."

"WHAT?!" Prism shouted. "I can't believe this! I am your right hand officer, and you plot conquest behind my back?! I would never approve of this! And I should never have agreed to your other crazy plot! You have gone off the deep end, and I'm done following you!"

"Good luck with that," said Tragic. "You have nowhere else to go."

Meanwhile, a biplane flew into the sky from the other side of the island. "KYLE!" Rosa called. "Come down here at once! It's me, your wife!"

"Oh shit," said Tragic. "The beautiful thot returns."

Rosa drew her pistol and her sword, then combined them together to form a sword that was also a gun. "I will get my husband back, and I will end you with this RWBYian weapon."

"Come at me, you delicate flower."

Rosa charged Tragic, running with her arms behind her and dodging the mech bullets. MacGregor and many of the Guns N' Roses troops followed.

Rosa reached the mech and swung her sword at the canopy. Tragic blocked with a mechanical arm, but Rosa shot the glass, cracking it. Tragic shoved Rosa away with the other arm of the mech, but Rosa charged again.

Up in the sky, a man in a plane, Kyle Strike Freedom was his name,

Strike saw Tragic dueling with the mysterious but achingly familiar woman. He did know who she was, but his chest tightened and he felt a pang of guilt when he saw her.

The Mechanical Might troops were too mixed up with the attackers for Strike to do a strafing run on the said attackers without killing any allies. Not only that, but he also got the feeling that he shouldn't be strafing the attackers. There was only one thing to do. Land.

As Tragic and Rosa continued dueling, they noticed the biplane getting lower and landing on the beach. They turned away from each other to look at Strike emerging from the plane and walking towards them. The troops on both sides gave him a wide berth.

Why aren't they shooting at me? He thought.

"Strikey, help me kill this bitch," said Tragic. "She may be super hot, but she attacked us and therefore must die."

"Don't listen to her," said Rosa. "She attacked our home, gave you a head injury that wiped your memory, and abducted you. I am your wife, you must remember me!"

"You do look familiar," Strike said. "Like something from a dream. But I can't remember. It's just out of reach."

"She's famous," said Tragic, "you probably just saw her on TV or something. She's just a yandere stalker who wants to kidnap you."

"Your hypocrisy is astounding," said Rosa. She turned back to Strike. "Don't you remember how we met? You were a student at the flight academy, while I was facing trial for the Lighthouse War. I was at an all time low, and wished to be someone else, somewhere else. The next morning I woke up in your body, and you in mine. This happened every week. You powered through the trial with the confidence I lacked, and got me acquitted. And I saved you from failing your history class, and from friendlessness by meeting Futtleschish and F-Off Cinder. And you helped me stay connected to my own friends.

"We saved each other. And when we finally met in person, we declared our love. You rebuilt my confidence so that I could be the ruler my country needed. And with your loneliness ended, you rose through the pilot ranks, became a top mercenary, and did so well that our client, Arkos, made you an Oligarch. We fought many battles together, and got married. We vowed never to stray from each other."

By the end of her speech, Rosa had her hand on Strike's face. MacGregor had stood back with his face red, as if he knew his presence was intruding on something personal, but didn't want to risk anything bad happening by leaving.

"Rosa," said Strike. "I'm starting to remember."

"I knew you would," she whispered, and kissed him.

At once he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I remember everything now! I love you so, so much!"

"NOOO!" Tragic cried. "This wasn't supposed to happen!" She climbed out of her mech, which was damaged from sword marks and bullet holes.

Strike, Rosa, and MacGregor both turned to face her.

"I thought I could trust you," said Strike. "I've never felt so betrayed in all my life. You lied to me about everything!"

Tragic started to cry. "No, not everything. When I told you about how amazing you were, all the wonderful things you had done, and how much I wanted to be with you, I meant every word."

"That does not excuse what you have done,' said Rosa. "You have brought unimaginable harm to him and many others. Was it worth it?"

"It would have been."

"You are being incredibly selfish and obsessed to the point of insanity," said Strike. "You said you found Rosa exceptionally attractive too? As a member of the former Pink Rose Gold High Council, I am open minded. Perhaps Rosa and I could have added you to our relationship. But your many evil deeds have forfeited that."

"It was in the name of love!" Tragic exclaimed. "Can't you forgive me?"

MacGregor finally spoke up. "Think of it this way. If a man had done even a quarter of the things you did 'in the name of love,' how would people see him? Would it be at all acceptable? Attacking his nation and killing many, kidnapping him, starting a relationship under false pretenses, and trying to kill his wife when she returned. Do any of those sound okay? Or do they sound like the actions of a deranged lunatic? A yandere is a terrible thing in the real world."

Tragic stood there, frozen and silent for many seconds. Her face turned into an expression of pure horror, as if she had realized that the most terrible thing one could imagine was true. Her face was as white as bleached bones and her eyes stared off into an infinite distance, staring at nothing.

"...You're right," she finally said, her voice hoarse and high pitched. "I don't know what's come over me. Ever since the ACPM explosion and finding Melanie's corpse, I haven't felt like myself. When I watched the old Ship Wars 3 combat footage, I was seized by this uncontrollable urge to have Strikey be mine. It's still there. I can't get rid of it."

She offered her wrists. "Take me prisoner. I must go on trial for what I've done."

"She's too dangerous," said Ebullient Prism, who had crept up behind her. "I'm sorry." And with that, he shot her in the back and through her chest.

The sound of the gunshot shattered the air. The fighting had already stopped. Tragic's eyes somehow went even wider and her face paler, as blood flowed from her back, her chest, and her mouth. A second later, she collapsed.

Several soldiers on both sides shot Ebullient Prism, spraying more blood across the sand.

"STOP!" Strike shouted. "That's enough bloodshed for today."

He and Rosa knelt down next to Tragic. As her blood flowed onto the beach, many shards of Bragg mixed with D-Spair and a strange, new, green variant came out with it. As the contradictory mind-altering substances left her body, the insane light in her eyes disappeared, and a look of relief replaced it.

"I-" she coughed up blood. "I feel better now." She smiled, and her heart and lungs stopped.

"Rest in Peace, Tragic Solitude," said Strike, and closed her eyes with his fingertips. MacGregor took his helmet off. Rosa put her hand on Strike's shoulder.

Back at RUBES

Austin, Venom, Armory, Nitesco, Taco, and the others at Ray of Sunshine heard the sounds of many thousands of footprints approaching.

"Is Peter back already? Taco asked.

"Let's go take a look," said Venom.

As soon as they looked outside, the breath left their lungs and the world seemed to stop. Their bodies shivered with terror.

On one ridge

Metas M. Petivero, Exspiro V. Crematam, and the Porcupine looked down at the fortress. Two hundred thousand rodents waited behind them. "Let's do this, brother," said Exspiro through his new breathing apparatus.

On the other ridge

The Black Sphinx also looked down at the damaged and understaffed fortress of Ray of Sunshine. His lieutenants, Hoesack and Mankuy, stood beside him. Thousands of Unauthorized Snuggles and Feline Utopia troops stood behind them.

"Today, Ray of Sunshine falls."