Home Base...

*Fenri walks into the house with the ice encased Waru in hand and Ven following behind him. He opens the door with a wave of his hand and the icy hallways open up to him. Fenri walks in and expects Ven to follow, looking back only once*

We're home.

*Nightmare and Burst, Gatomon's young pet dragons, make their way through the snow around Fenri's house and perch themselves on the roof, looking over the side into a window quietly. THey're here looking for Nero and Terra, knowing that they spend a lot of time there anyway. Naturally this is the first place they would begin their search*

*Julia approaches the scene yawning and stretching after disappearing from Aeon's Training Room. She walks up to Fenri and smiles, laying a hand on his shoulder*

You're a bit late, don't you think.

Julia: I was watching Nero, but Aeon can handle him from here.

Fine.

*Fenri and Julia enter the Crystalline Domicile and place Maruze on some sort of pedestal surrounded completely with Azure Flame, preventing his escape*

Maruze's eyes opened, as he was still within the sword, technically being within the soul of Waru. "Waru, we have stopped."

Waru: Keeehehehehe... And we are still trapped in this ice paradise... Isn't it niiiiice? Kehehe...

Maruze sighed "Waru. We must escape. For this to happen, I must gain new power... I must train severely while in this thing. What will be able to get me out of here? What can you teach me?"

Waru snickered a bit "Weeeell... I could teach you a wide variety of Sword Magic... the Time Blade... The Space Blade... The Reality Blade... The Warp Blade... Dimension Blade... Conversion Blade... And possibly a Division technique that divides two set spaces from each other, but it also has to be used with the Reality Blade... But as you may or may not know, most of those except for the Space Blade are... Dark Sword Magic."

Maruze's eyes would narrow "Dark Sword Magic...? What do you mean?"

Waru chuckled a bit "Well. Sword Magic is magic embedded into your sword from your soul, right? Well Dark Sword Magic is the evil and darkness within you manifesting itself into Sword Magic, or perhaps it is some of my evil and darkness manifesting itself into Sword Magic. There is a side effect that may alter your state of mind... But otherwise, this Dark Sword Magic is a lot more potent and powerful than your normal Sword Magic... Kehehe... It is your only escape, Maruze... Your only way of getting out..."

Maruze closed his eyes "... Side effect that may alter my state of mind, you say? Elaborate. Completely."

Waru sighed "Alright, alright.. Cool it... It merely makes your mind... clouded in darkness and evil. You will become ruthless~! Destructive~! Evil~! And your power and endurance... everything about you... will increase drastically. Don't worry, don't worry! It isn't a permanent effect! It only lasts for however long you use your Dark Sword Magic!" Waru snickered some more, thinking <And if you use it too much... You won't be able to revert your mind back to normal! Keeeheheheheheheh...> He merely smiled at Maruze.

Maruze opened his eyes, feeling a bit uneasy... But it was better than being trapped here forever. "Alright. I will train under the Dark Sword Magic."

Waru gave a gruesome, wide toothed smile "What a wise man you are... I assure you... The decision will not be regretted..."

Maruze nodded "So. Tell me. How will these... Dark Sword Magic abilities will get us out of here, will you, Waru?"

Waru hissed, snickering "Weeell... You see... There are a wiiiiide variety of Dark Sword Magic abilities I can teach you... In time... But the ones I have listed are crucial to our escape. The Time Blade will begin to reverse the flow of time where we cut, thus making those places back to normal before the Azure Flame ever took over... Once that is done, we use the Space and Reality Blades to warp the space of the area to keep the Azure Flame from coming back... Then comes the Dimension Blade, which will transfer us to another dimension and back into our own dimension with a second slash. And the Conversion Blade... Will convert the space, time and reality back to normal within it, just in case there is something up the sleeve of that Fenri.... Does this sound like a plaaaan~?"

Maruze nodded once more "Alright. Let's do it, then. Time Blade is first, hm? How do I use these... Dark Sword Magic abilities, hm?"

Waru's eyes narrowed "Well, you see... As I stated before, you must summon the darkness and evil within you and allow it to take control of your mind and soul so that your Sword Magic becomes tainted with this evil, thus increasing its power and altering its abilities... So. Let the evil flow through you. Let the darkness rise. Let your soul fall corrupt... Just for this short time..." Waru's mouth began to salivate just a bit, but he slurped up his drool.

Maruze's mouth scrunched up, then reverted to normal "Evil... Corruption... Darkness..." He closed his eyes, looking deep within his soul... He was there again. It had been a while. He stood there, on the side of his divided soul consumed in nothing but purity, staring at the other half of his soul, which was dark and gloomy. Again, he saw the eyes of Waru, however this time those eyes belonged to... Maruze. Or, as one would say, an alternate evil Maruze. Maruze stared at the evil Maruze... In which we will call Waruze, and Waruze stared back at him. Suddenly, Waru's voice was heard echoing throughout the area.

"Maruze... You do remember this scene, don't you...? Do you remember a little while back... When we were in this same position and I asked you to cross over to the other side... The black side of your soul? Yes... You remember... I asked you to do it for this very reason... Back then I wanted to teach you about Dark Sword Magic just in case this happened... But it does not matter. Right now, it is necessary that you do as you are told... So. You must go over to that side. Join Waruze. Let his darkness fill you..."

Maruze looked up to the sky, squinting his eyes "... Is this the only way? I do wish to maintain balance, but... ... It seems as though now, there is no other choice..." Maruze started walking to the darkness, drawing his sword. He gritted his teeth, stopping at the border. It seemed as though Waruze mirrored him perfectly, except for the fact that on his face was a wide, pointy toothed grin and demonic eyes like that of Waru.

Waruze's mouth opened as the grin changed into a slight scowl "Come..." was all he said, making the same stern face as Maruze, but with a hint of demonic taste.

Maruze finally touched the blade of Waruze with his own, his blade becoming tainted black, just as that blade was "If it is the only way..." He took a step into the darkness, his pale eyes glowing within the ever blackening darkness "... Then I shall..." With that, Maruze's eyes opened, now the same color as Waru's.. In fact, his face was that of Waruze's, now.

Waru cackled, grasping Waruze's shoulder "Good! Good! Now, the training can commence..." Waru transformed into his sword form, Waruze quickly gripping him. "Let's get started..

Waruze's eyes shot through Waru, piercing his very essence with his stare "Teach it to me then. We don't have time for shit. Time Blade, am I right?"

Waru bursted out laughing hysterically "KEEEHEHEHEHEHEH!!! Oh, my, aren't we the badass now? Keeheheheeeh... Yes, yes. The Time Blade. Now, for this blade to work, I will have to use a bit of my power as well... my Demonic power... All you have to do is concentrate on the flow of time. The flow of time would be something like... Hm... Slow Down... Fast Forward... Rewind... Repeat... Stop... Play...Record... You know, things of that nature. Naturally, we will be needing to rewind time, and as such, where you slash would rewind time. As time progresses, the power of evil will allow you to do this yourself... But as of right now, my power is necessary... Heh."

Waruze growled "Enough with the commentary. I just want to do the shit. Make it happen so I can get out of this hellhole of ice. It pisses me off."

Waru's smile grew wider "Ha! Alright. Concentrate on rewinding... Reversing... Reverting... All you have to do is cut. Demons such as myself move not by the laws of time... Heh heh..."

Waruze scoffed "Shut up." He slashed through the air, the space distorting and then reverting to an earlier period in time. After that, it stopped. It actually made a physical entity. Waruze touched it, and it was solid. If nothing was moving, then it meant that it had become still space and thus, solid... in a sense. Waruze couldn't move it at all. It was like an invisible barrier. "Is that what you wanted me to do?"

Waru snickered "Yes... And this is why the Space Blade would be necessary here... This is still space. It is still because time does not flow wherever you have slashed and thus, nothing can move, not even space. Space and time work together, however the flow of time stopping and literally stopping time's aspects are very different. The flow of time is allowed to travel because of space, and if space is still going as time is not, it still allows things to move. If everything is stopped, even space is still, and thus, nothing can pass. Now, to harness this power and keep space moving, we need the space blade..."

Waruze stabbed the sword into the ground "Dammit, demon. I told you quit spouting your shit and just tell me how to DO this stuff. I do NOT want to hear any fucking commentary." He stepped on the handle of the blade with one foot, passing his hand through his hair "So. Space blade. Do it. NOW. Or else we won't get out of here."

Waru's signature evil grin quickly became an unpleasant frown "Well. The Space Blade does not require any Dark Sword Magic. It just requires normal Sword Magic. It is one of the most powerful Sword Magic abilities that can be at your disposal... Or, hm, maybe I am saying too much...?"

Waruze smirked "Now you're gettin' it." He jumped off of the handle, pulling up the blade. "Takes my own ability, eh? Alright. Let's do this, then. How do I learn it?"

Waru sighed "Embedding the magic of space within your blade. Just how you learned your other sword magics, of course."

Waruze nodded "Fine. Let's do it. It can't really be that hard, can it...?" He stared at the frozen piece of... time?... in front of him, holding the sword up "Sword Magic: Space Blade.." The sword began to be wrapped in the space around it for a bit, however... Soon after, the space returned to normal and the sword became normal. Waruze sneered "... The fuck? What the hell happened?"

Waru sighed once more "... Nyeeeh... As easy as it is for you to use already learned Sword Magic... I fear that learning new Sword Magic is a bit difficult. The learning comes from your current state of mind and your current state of your soul, which is now tainted. Meaning that it is slightly blocked... Meaning that it will take a lot more power than normal to... stabilize. Was that enough information, or too much?"

Waruze smiled "Just enough. Soul's blocked? Fuck it. I'll just amp up my power..." He raised the sword again, his eyes beginning to glow black and teeth gritting tightly as he now shouted "SWORD MAGIC: SPACE BLADE!!!" This time, space around Waruze began to distort and curl around him, swirling up his body and around to the blade. The blade seemed to be sucking up the scenery... or the atmosphere... or, well. The space of the area. With that, the blade looked like the scenery it just kinda sucked in, the space of the area returning to normal. "Really? All of that just to make this? And for a little ass cut like that...?" The frozen time cut was still there, and in the same fashion as it was made, Waruze made a slash again with the space blade. Now Waruze was able to pass through it. He waved his hand at the area, not knowing where he slashed "... So, what's the difference than from before? Don't tell me that I just cut that thing to nullify it..."

Waru smirked "Hold, hold, Waruze... It is not the same. Watch." Since this was Waru's soul they resided in at the moment, he technically had complete dominance over it. He stared at that large, general area, the space of it changing to a different scenery... all except that cut, which stayed the same. The space was free to flow, but the flow of time had stopped, meaning that there was no more change in it until it was free to flow again. "Do you see now, Waruze? With the flow of space and no flow of time, there is no change, however there is movement. Meaning we can keep the Azure Flame at bay with these two cuts for however long we need. It will not progress due to the space and will not change due to the time, however we will progress. Now if we can just--"

"You're doin it again. Get to the goddamn point, babbling cretin." Waruze struck the sword into the ground, the spacial energies flying from it and reverting to normal. He took a deep breath, now that he had done the Space Blade, it shouldn't be a problem to do it again, as Waru said before. "Just tell me what the blade is, what it does and how to do it. That's it. Nothing extra. You're pissing me off."

Waru scowled "Fine. The Reality Blade is next. Using this, we can alter the reality of the situation, thus utilizing both space and time and allow them to change to our will, even while the Azure Flame still cannot regenerate, but the flow of time will be moving again and allow us to change the space there." Waru paused for a moment, staring at Waruze through the blade.

Waruze's eyes squinted, nodding cautiously "... Go on..."

Waru smiled "Alright. This Reality Blade will require your control over the Space and Time blades into one... Thus binding them with your evil energy, which is why it is Dark Sword Magic." another sword appeared, now showing Waru's face in the blade. They both spoke simultaneously "Begin!"

Waruze started to become darker, an aura of evil being omitted from his body "Dark Sword Magic..." Waru started to glow with this evil energy as well "Time Blade..." Waru started to surge with the power of the Time Blade, another sword appearing in Waruze's hand "... Space Blade...." Just like the Time Blade, the energy of Space engulfed the Space Blade... "... Merge into the..." Waruze placed both the Space and Time Blades near each other, letting them merge into one "REALITY BLADE!!" Waruze made a quick slash, the area which he slashed changing and warping to his own Reality at his will, it being very apparent what he wanted. He saw his daughter. Though, it was not her... It was just her soul. "... Waru.. Is that--?"

"Yes, Waruze... Your own daughter. The Reality Blade changes reality to your will... And your highest will is to see your daughter. There she is, her soul. You, yourself are too lost in darkness to even consider seeing the flesh version of her... Lest you risk killing her once again! Keeeheheheheheh..."

Waruze fell to his knees, only staring at the soul of his daughter "Meo... How I have missed you..."

Meo nodded "Father, it was not your fault... It was mine. You should feel no misery for my actions... Besides, your one wish was to see me again, wasn't it? Well... Here I am."

Waruze's body still became darker, though he was feeling quite good. He looked at himself, noticing that there was no turning back now "... Meo. I have fallen to the path of the demon.. I cannot be saved. Next time... It may not be an accident... So, I want you to go. I have seen you. That was my last wish. Go and rest in peace as a soul..."

Meo shook her head "I shall not. I want your Sword Magic to live on... Even if you do not. Your sword magic has saved many people, and I want it to continue to save people. Father.." She touched him, letting a special energy extract something from him "... This is a portion of your Sword Magic. With this, I will bestow it upon someone new... Someone else who uses a sword that seems worthy of this power... someone with a heart as pure as yours once was... Before--"

Waru swiftly interrupted "WARUZE!! You must hurry and master the Dimension and Conversion Blade! Our time to get out is nigh! Let your daughter go and do whatever her bidding is! You can't be trapped in here forever, right!?" Waru was getting impatient.

Waruze nodded "Fine. Meo. Do what you want. I'm sending you back. As long as you have my Sword Magic with you, a little piece of my soul will be with you as well... That small portion that still contains light. Now... Get out." He slashed the air, creating another Reality rift, which would send her out and about into the Reality Village.

Waru scoffed "Are you done with your family reunion...? Because if you are... You must learn the Dimension Blade!"

Waruze sneered "Fine. How do I master this... 'Dimension Blade?'"

Waru smiled "Weeeeell... You must first focus on opening a rift, like you did with the Reality Blade, however instead of only going to THIS realm, going into ANOTHER realm via my dark demonic energies... Just focus the Reality Blade and I will focus energy..."

Waruze hissed out "Fine then. Let's go. Dark Sword Magic: Reality Blade." He reared up the Reality Blade once more, and this time Waru started focusing some... wierd energy into it. It was odd, for the Reality Blade started to bend and curve, looking as if it weren't even real anymore. Finally, it straightened up, taking the form of a normal sword, only completely pitch black. "Is it done, Waru?"

Waru nodded "Yeeessss... The Dimension Blade. All you have to do is slash it. I will maintain it!"

Waruze shook his head, slashing the blade, opening up a rift into another dimension with the first slash, though it quickly closed back up. "... Is it supposed to close that fast?" Waru nodded "Yeeesss... The more you use it, the longer is stays open. Maintain control, and you will be able to keep it long enough." Waruze tapped the sword on the ground "... So. Here goes again." He slashed the air numerous times, making many rifts that closed slower and slower with each slash.

As Waruze was about to make the final slash, Waru stopped him "ENOUGH. Now, to make the Conversion Blade. This blade can convert things into their opposite states, original states or into liquid, solid or gas. It is a great sword.. which is why we use it last."

Waruze scoffed "Is it REALLY that necessary? And besides... How come you never used this power BEFORE when I was in battle?"

Waru sneered "Because you were too pure. My darkness begets darkness, you know."

Waruze squinted his eyes "... Fine. Whatever. How do I use this... Conversion Blade?"

Waru merely laughed "Just... Let me handle that one. You needn't do a thing, Waruze. Let me guide you... Through all of this, your darkness is even more powerful than before. And we are more linked through it... AS of right now, your body and my body are almost one and the same... As such, I can just control your arms to use me as I see fit. You see?" Waru focused a shitload of random energies into his sword, thus changing him into the Conversion Blade. "Even if you cannot do this... I can."

Waruze snarled "Just don't go messing with my body during battle. And since you know how to do this 'conversion blade...' We're getting out of here. Now."

Waru snickered "Whatever you say... Waruze..." Waru snapped his fingers, letting Waruze out of his sword and soul, back to the confines of the Azure Flame container... thing.

Waruze shook his head "Ugn.. How long has it been..? It feels like it's been months..." He stood "... Nah. I haven't eaten or slept or excreted any waste. It couldn't have been months."

Waru's face gleamed in the blade "Waruze... You are wasting precious time. You remember which blade to use first, don't you? We didn't learn about the Warp Blade, but it isn't all that crucial, you see..."

Waruze hissed back at him "Don't rush me, Waru, or I swear I'll let us both die here." Waruze gripped Waru tightly "... The first sword... The Time Blade..." Waruze focused darkness into Waru's sword "Dark Sword Magic: Time Blade!" He made a slash at the Azure Flame container, and where he slashed, time had stopped.

Waru shouted "QUICKLY! THE SPACE BLADE!!"

Waruze sneered and continued "Sword Magic: Space Blade!!" He slashed in the same spot that he did the Time Blade, letting Space and Time freeze where he slashed. "Dark Sword Magic... Reality Blade!!" He slashed at it once again, now warping reality to his will to alter the effects ot the Azure Flame... "Dark Sword Magic: Dimension Blade!" He slashed at the weakened space, time and reality of the Azure Flame, making a dimensional rift which he jumped into, then made another slash to get out and back outside of the Azure Flame. "Dark Sword Magic... Conversion Blade!" Finally, he slashed where he once was and reverted it to normal, as if he hadn't left or done anything to the Azure Flame. "... Finally... We're done now, Waru."

Waru nodded "Yeeeeessss... We are... Now. I know that you and I are both hungry... So... Why not go... Collect some souls? It's not like you have anything else to live for, Maruze-- Whoops... I mean... Waruze. Keeeheheheeheh..."

Waruze looked down, starting to walk "... Shut the fuck up..." That being said, he fleed the Crystalline Domicile, roaming as if he were never trapped...