(Spoilers for the end of Blazblue)
A sudden ringing sound blares from a scroll lying peacefully on a table, the disruptive sound echoing around in what appeared to be an unkempt, messy hideout; it's empty and quiet atmosphere now filled with the sounds of loud high-pitched noises before the only resident within the area rushes in towards the source.
Neo, who had been in the kitchen making tea, storms out into the dining room to where she had previously left her scroll. Quickly reaching out to grab it, she looked down at the device to see just who was the one behind the call, hoping it was who she had been waiting for. And upon reading the name of the caller, she gasped.
Upcoming video call: Ragna
She immediately swiped right to accept, before then being forced to wait as the device attempted to connect to the caller on the other side; her longing to see the man having only made her grow more antsy as time went on. Soon enough though, the device had finally finished loading and gave her a proper view of the person on the other end. And upon seeing his face, her expression held the biggest smile it had ever formed.
Ragna: Hey Neo. You doing okay? Oh who am I kidding, of course you are. You know how to watch over yourself.
There he was, the individual she had been waiting to see this entire time. The man who she had come to entrust her life with for any and all dangers, and the person who had come to earn her respect more times than not, finally reaching back to her and meeting each other face-to-face. …sort of anyways.
Neo looked at whatever she could lay her eyes on through the screen, eyeing Ragna for any injuries that he may have received throughout this whole period. She noticed a couple of minor cuts and bruises on his face along with how torn his jacket appeared to be. She looked towards his eyes and found what appeared to be quite the amount of exhaustion residing in them; but all-in-all, Ragna was doing just fine, only encouraged by the fact that he continued to carry the same confident smile she had come to adore.
With a huge exhale, Neo let out all the stress she had been carrying, giving herself one of the biggest sighs of relief she has ever had. She was glad to know that Ragna was doing okay, glad to know that he is indeed alright.
Ragna: *smirk* What's with that sigh just now? You weren't doubting me, were you?
Upon his attempt at teasing, Neo would then find herself glaring down at Ragna with a disapproving stare, not at all in any mood to joke around with "The Grim Reaper". Her eyes gave off such an intense aura that even Ragna himself found to be quite scary, evidently not prepared to be on the receiving end of it.
Ragna: Whoa! Hey! Chill out! I didn’t mean to piss you off or anything! I just... thought that– you’d be feeling a lot more relaxed this time around, especially when you sounded way calmer through the texts.
Upon the mention of her texts, Neo sighed, disappointment now evident on her face. She had indeed been worried for Ragna’s sake, especially since he wouldn’t respond back to her. Yet even after reading her texts, he appeared to remain clueless as to what had been eating her up inside; not at all knowing what exactly he made her go through.
Ragna, however, wasn’t as oblivious to the situation as she had thought, for he knew that there were indeed some wrongs he needed to amend.
Ragna: *scratches cheek* …Listen, I know that– you’ve been worried this whole time and… trust me, I know it’s all my fault.
Neo perked up as Ragna continued to speak, intrigued with what he had to say.
Ragna: I get that I… should’ve checked in with you sooner. I know that I should’ve at least given you a heads up or an update on the situation, but… I didn’t, and I’m really sorry about that.
Neo watched as Ragna apologized and took the blame for all his wrongdoings, understanding that he was indeed at fault for what he had done and how he should have never made her so worried in the first place. He seemed very sincere and was genuinely sorry for what he had done; and yet… despite all that, it wasn’t enough.
Neo remained still unsatisfied even after his apology.
Ragna tried to think of what else he could say to rectify the situation. He could tell that there was something else she had been looking for but what? He thought it over for another moment until it dawned on him.
Ragna: Is this... because of my weird behavior lately?
Neo didn’t respond, she merely waited for Ragna to carry on with his thought process.
Ragna: Look, I know I’ve been acting… pretty strange lately, especially back when we last talked. And I know I asked some strange questions, kept some secrets, and– kept you waiting for answers… but– look, I promise I’ll explain everything to you now. Whatever questions you got or want to know I'm willing to answer it.
Neo glanced an eye towards Ragna, still expecting more.
Ragna: And… I know how much you’ve been left in the dark for all this and… I want you to know that I really am sorry for all that. I promise that it’s not going to happen again. So, if… that's alright with you then-
Ragna: Oh, come on! Still?!
Ragna watched as Neo didn’t give him the time of day, not once showing any sign of wanting to forgive him. He tried to think, what else? What else could he say to fix the mess he’s got himself into.
Ragna: …Tell you what, how about I do you a favor. Anything you want, just tell me what I need to do, and we can-
Out of nowhere, a giggle suddenly leaped out of Neo’s throat, her laughter no longer being able to contain itself as Ragna continued to act all frantic. A grinning smile grew from her lips, bringing the disappointed expression she had been carrying to an end.
Ragna: Wait… Have you just been screwing with me this whole time?!
Neo’s laughter only grew louder as Ragna began to realize that he had been had.
Ragna (flustered): You were, weren’t you! Gah, You– Dick!
Neo waved apologetically, her laughter becoming uncontrollable; all the while Ragna was left red and embarrassed over feeling like a fool.
Ragna: *Groan* You always have to get a rise out of me don’t you.
As Neo tried to recompose herself, she proceeded to reach out for something off screen.
Ragna: And here I thought you were actually pissed.
Pulling out a notepad and revealing a page towards the screen, Neo used her semblance to construct words and showcased a sentence for Ragna to read.
*Flip* Up until the first apology at least.
Ragna: You mean I got all sappy for nothing?
I’m sorry. You were being way too sincere for me to NOT mess with.
Ragna: Ugh, whatever. Cause guess what, I’m not saying anything anymore.
*Flip* Come on~ You promised.
*Flip* And it wasn’t all for nothing.
*Flip* You made sure to make me feel well accounted for.
*Flip* And I appreciate that.
Ragna, with his embarrassment fading away, chose to remain silent. Actively choosing not to respond.
*Flip* After what you did, you kinda deserve it.
Ragna… couldn’t deny that.
Ragna: *sigh* Damn it! I guess you’re right.
Neo then began motioning Ragna to get to it. The sooner the better after all.
Ragna stood silent for a moment, contemplating what he was about to do. He thought back to his conversation with Trinity and how she made him realize the mistake he was about to make beforehand.
Deep down, he knew there were things he needed to do, he knew there were things he needed to say... No, not just needed, but wanted. Things he wanted to do. Things he wanted to say. Things he wanted for the sake of Neo… and for the sake of himself.
Strengthening his resolve, he stared directly at her; coming to terms with the consequences of his actions and embracing whatever circumstances that may come his way.
This was it… this was where they’ll both get closure.
Ragna: Alright then. Take a seat, whenever you're ready. We’re going to need a lot of time to sort this all out.
Neo smirked, acknowledging the circumstances and accepting it for what it is. To her, this was her moment to finally get all the answers she had been waiting for. To finally understand all that has been going on. And to finally find out what else was to come. Whatever it may be, she was going to be ready for it.
Sitting down, Neo propped up her scroll on the table, ready to listen.
Ragna: Okay, let’s get started.
Ragna: …and just like that... all the bastards were dead.
A moment of silence was all there was between the two as Neo thought about all that was said to her; before the sounds of light clapping soon filled the air. She praised Ragna for his upstanding victory, catching him off guard but nonetheless appreciating the sentiment.
Ragna: Heh well, what can I say. They really didn't stand a chance once I actually got into it.
Neo giggled, agreeing with the notion; after all, this is Ragna they're talking about, and he never backs down to anyone, nor would he ever stand to lose to anyone, no matter how powerful they may be.
Ragna: Still, I got to give credit to where it’s due. It was a pretty tough fight, and it probably wouldn't have been as easy without the help from the others.
Neo casually nodded, understanding that the battle surely must have been a hassle to get through, but... she was a bit curious as to how the others performed.
Ragna: Ruby made sure to keep everyone safe with the use of her semblance. Hyde's sword surprisingly came in clutch against the likes of Salem. And Yu really knew how to rally everyone together and keep our spirits up.
Neo listened on as Ragna praised the others for all their efforts in the final battle, admitting how much of a big help they were and how efficient they were in being able to pull through and work together as a team. While Neo wasn't particularly in any good relationships with anyone within the group, even she couldn't help but feel a little impressed and give respect to when it was due.
Ragna: And Jin, had to hand it to him too. Guy actually put his crazy obsession aside to help us. Went toe-to-toe with Susanoo and everything.
Neo grew curious over what Ragna had just said. Jin? Really? She found it hard to believe that that lunatic actually came through for them.
Ragna: Strange, I know. But deep down he really does mean well; he just lets– other matters get the better of him. Thank God he didn't let it happen this time.
*Flip* How’d he manage that?
Ragna: I just promised him a small favor by the time this was all over, something to keep his head in the game you know.
Neo tilted her head in curiosity, wishing to know what exactly the promise was.
Ragna: Curious huh? Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt to tell you. You see… I promised I’d let him kill me by the end of this whole ordeal.
Neo found herself dumbfounded upon hearing what the promise was. While she knew Jin was crazy; he really had the gall to ask Ragna that? And Ragna actually promised him it too?
Ragna: Yeah… I know it sounds crazy, but coming from him it really wasn’t going to be anything else. Besides, it's not like I planned on keeping it anyways. I have things I want to do after all.
*Flip* So you made a false promise.
Ragna: Yeah well… Thanks to a certain someone, I ended up learning to be a bit more selfish.
A moment of laughter would then come about between the two, both giggling upon the irony of Ragna's actions; Neo herself never having figured that he was even capable of such a dirty deed to begin with.
Ragna: And with that… I now hold the power of the True Azure, the Azure Flame Grimoire. The power that can bring about anyone's desire.
Neo stared in awe as Ragna explained the new almighty power he had received upon Terumi's death; a power that was essentially a gift bestowed from a God, from The Origin itself. Such power was what the villains were after this entire time, and now– here it was within Ragna's grasp.
She grew curious over the kind of things that could be done with such power, the many possible things that it could bring began to flow through her mind. The many heists she and Roman could pull off, the many activities she and Ragna could do for fun, the many things that they could all get away with… Only for Ragna to unfortunately burst her bubble.
Ragna: I can already tell what you're thinking and– No, we are not going to be using this for fun. So, whatever you have in mind you can just drop it.
Neo slumped down on her chair, bummed that she won't be able to mess around with such thing.
Ragna: Come on, don’t be like that. With your powers, you can practically get whatever you want already, can't you?
Neo remained annoyed regardless.
Ragna: *sigh* …Look, I’m sorry alright. I know you wanna have your fun and use it for some petty crimes with Roman, but power like this isn't something that should stick around for too long. I mean– we just had people from across the world trying to get their hands on this thing.
Neo brought out her notepad again and flipped a page.
But the power resides in you now, so it's not like anyone can steal it.
*Flip* And you’re responsible enough to deal with something like this.
Ragna paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. As much of a fair point she makes, the reason behind its prohibition was a lot more complicated than a simple act of responsibility.
Ragna: Alright look, I’m not exactly planning on getting rid of this without using it at least once; even I know how big of a chance this is to not pass that up. I even already got something in mind. So don’t worry, I’m not just gonna let it go to waste.
Neo merely stared as Ragna finished speaking before simply taking a resigned sigh and accepting his thoughts for what it was. Try as she might, she knew that there was no stopping Ragna once he sets his mind on something; he was simply far too stubborn for that.
Regardless, Neo still felt curious as to what exactly Ragna had in store then. With power so almighty and unstoppable, the unlimited possibilities of what could be gained was simply unimaginable; and for someone as unique as Ragna, she wondered... just what was he going to use it for?
Ragna: You’re curious as to what I got in mind, right? Well… brace yourself, cause this is where things become... a lot to take in.
Neo raised an eyebrow, confused as to what he meant.
Ragna: You remember back when we last talked, and how I asked if you had any dreams?
Neo nodded, remembering the moment clearly. How could she forget, it was what started all her concerns to begin with.
Ragna: Take a deep breath. Try to clear your mind for a bit. Told you it was going to be a lot.
Neo did what she was told as she tried registering all that was said to her just then.
Apparently, the reason for all of Ragna's strange behaviors, the reason for all his questions and secrecy, the reason for it all… was because of this massive plan that he had been concocting under everyone's noses.
A plan to change the world for the better.
With the help of the Azure, and the Giant floating God that everyone bore witness to earlier, The Master Unit, Ragna was going to recreate the entire world from scratch, along with fixing all the damages that were made and getting rid of all the factors that caused all these events in the first place. This way, they would never have a repeat of such events ever again.
What’s more, he plans to use the dreams of everyone he knows to help shape the new world over, that way it could ensure that whatever comes next for their world would be for the better. While at the same time, making everyone’s personal dreams come true and bringing their desired future into reality. A reality where everyone will finally live in peace.
Ragna was essentially creating an ideal world for everyone, a world where no one will ever have to worry about any more world-ending threats. A world where their own dreams and goals have been realized. A world where they can all live however way they see fit. All without any interruptions from any other problems.
This… was what Ragna had been working on this entire time. This… is what he had been planning for this entire period. All with everyone being none the wiser.
Raising her notepad, Neo asked:
Since when were you the calculating type?
Ragna: Seriously? That’s what got you stuck? Nothing about the whole “world-changing” plan I’ve been working on?
Neo gave Ragna a stern look, indicating how she just wanted to just get straight to the point.
Ragna: *sigh* Well, it wasn’t easy. There were a lot of things I had to get ready, a lot of people I needed to find, and even then, some of it still required a bit of chance. You could say it was a bit of a gamble and there were a lot of holes that needed filling, but… it all worked out in the end.
*Flip* Not the brightest plan then.
Ragna: Hey. I said it all worked out, didn’t I?
Neo simply rolled her eyes, taunting him over how incoherent his plan may have been.
Ragna: Still… the really annoying part was trying to get as many dreams as I could.
Neo perked up upon the mention of dreams, given how it was the aspect that she found most intriguing to begin with.
Ragna: With all our worlds being merged together, I had to go around and gather the dreams of people from both inside and outside my own universe to make sure things worked right. Thankfully, all I had to do was focus on the ones that took part in that Phantom Field tournament from when this all began; made things way easier for me in the long run, helped me figure out just who was I looking for.
*Flip* And that’s why you asked me about my dreams.
*Flip* You were out on some secret business.
Ragna: Yeah, pretty much. It took a while, but I did eventually get all I needed. Heck, I just got the last batch from the others that were up here with me just now. It’s… actually one of the reasons it took so long to reach back to you, ya know.
Neo’s face began to glow as everything finally made sense to her; her questions having now received answers after all this time. With a light sigh, a feeling of ease washed over her body as a hint of satisfaction lingered on her face.
Ragna: Though I got to be honest. When it came to you I– never... really took your dream.
And with that… the calm, easy feeling that she had felt just a moment ago has vanished, the once satisfied expression Neo carried now replaced with that of a bewildered one.
Ragna: Now I know what it sounds like, but– don’t get me wrong. This wasn’t out of anything personal if that’s what you're wondering. It's rather because… you– said you didn’t have any.
A realization began to hit Neo, as she slowly understood what Ragna was getting at.
Ragna: Everybody had something they wanted to work for and achieve, but you– didn't. Because you've already gotten it. You already have everything you could've wanted. If I tried, there really wouldn't have been anything for me to take, nor would it have made much of a difference in the new world. Everything would be more or less the same, you'll just go back to doing what you always do. So don't worry about being left out, your dreams are just fine.
Neo sighed, relieved to know that Ragna wasn't trying to single her out. For a moment there, she thought he might have been trying to screw her over, actively choosing to leave her dreams aside for the sake of everyone else's.
Not that she wouldn't get why, however. With how problematic her dreams most likely are, she can see why he would want to leave them out.
With it involving the act of causing problems and picking fights with authorities, it really wasn't the best future to go hand-in-hand with everyone else's brighter tomorrow. Something that Ragna himself probably wouldn’t be okay with, given all the lengths he went through to ensure a peaceful future.
In fact, now that she thinks about it, Ragna seemed strangely fine with just letting her carry on with her dreams. Why was that? For all of his efforts to ensure this ideal outcome, her dreams would most definitely throw a wrench in that perfect future he's been planning for.
Ragna who had been keeping an eye on her noticed how concerned Neo appeared to be all of sudden. With how relieved she was just a second ago, he thought it odd for her to be looking troubled. Neo, flipping to the next page, decided to share her current thoughts, curious to what he had to say.
You sure you're okay with me living out my dreams?
*Flip* It’s not like it’d be anything good…
*Flip* ...especially for a place meant to be perfect.
Ragna looked at her message through the screen, a moment of ponderation over the question before a smirk would find itself imbued on his face.
Ragna: *smirk* ...I don’t see why not. Might as well give the authorities something to do while they're over there.
Neo stared at Ragna, quite surprised over his nonchalance to her problematic dream.
Ragna: Okay, in all seriousness, I doubt it’s that much of a big deal. I mean… compared to what everyone else tried to do, you and Roman are pretty tamed in terms of your actions. Course, that’s comparing you guys to evil gods of all things, but… either way, you guys shouldn’t be too much of trouble. Just... don't tell Roman I said that, knowing him he's going to try aiming for something higher now.
As Ragna calmly talked about letting Neo carry on with her actions, he continued to carry a passive and genuine smile on his face, an indication that he really meant what he said and how he was really okay with such deeds. The sight of that smile warmed up something in Neo, something she didn’t realize.
Ragna: Besides, after everything you’ve done to make me feel at ease; I think I owe it to you to do the same.
Neo tilted her head, a bit curious towards Ragna’s statement, but flattered nonetheless. Flipping to the next page of her notepad, she pressed on for more info, this time with a slight grin on her face.
*Flip* I made you feel at ease?
*Flip* How did I manage that?
Ragna: You trying to act clueless or something? Tch, whatever, not like it matters anyways.
Ragna looked directly towards Neo, eyeing her through the scroll with genuine and sincere eyes.
Ragna: Whether you were trying to or not, you always had a strange way of getting me to feel satisfied, and in more ways than one too. Ways that I– never would have even imagined. Some of them were petty odd and... some of them were probably unhealthy too… yet, almost all of them turned out to be pretty fun regardless. Hell, I used to hate Dine and Dashing every so often, but now I... kind of can't get enough of it. Course that wasn't the only thing, what with all the poking fun, getting payback, and showing who's in charge, a lot of them were pretty worthwhile. All-in-all, you– always knew how to keep things fun; you always knew how to put me at ease, how to keep me happy, calm, and satisfied– all by being… you.
Neo found herself amused as Ragna spoke his mind about her, never knowing that this was how he had envisioned her. She only grew more interested as Ragna continued to ramble on at how much admired her as a person, as herself. Such praise made her feel special and quite happy, happy to know that someone as unique as Ragna can appreciate her for who she was.
Ragna: Sure, there are still some things I'm not a fan of. I mean, I can do without all the crimes and charges but… *smirk* Honestly... if it means I get to hang out with someone as cool and fun as you. Then I say, you’re worth all the charges.
Neo's heart suddenly began to beat faster, her face actually beginning to turn red. His words not only catching her off guard, but also touching her in a way she– wasn't expecting.
Ragna: Hey, you doing alright?
Turning away from the scroll, Neo kept her face hidden from Ragna, not wanting to show him the embarrassment she held on her face. It was her job to do the teasing after all.
Realizing the spot he had just put her in, Ragna merely chuckled in response. ‘Got her that time at least.’, he thought to himself.
Ragna: Point is, you don’t got anything to worry about. Everything is going to be fine now, and soon– you and everyone else can finally get back to doing whatever you guys want. While you can get to go back to having as much fun as you’d like, living your life without anyone left to bother you. Well… anyone besides the authorities anyways.
Neo thought about it for a moment and figured that– Ragna was indeed right. Now that it's all over, she can really go back to doing what she does best; petty crimes and schemes, and this time without any of the previous worries to boot.
She can finally go back to committing crimes with Roman, this time without any of his higher-ups telling them otherwise. She can finally go out and freely experience what the other worlds have to offer, especially now that she doesn’t have some raging God chasing after her. And she can finally bring herself to relax now that everything is completely safe. She was free now, free to explore, free to go out, free to have fun, and free… of all worries.
Soon enough, the thought of it all began to excite her. She already had tons of plans brewing up in her head and she simply couldn’t wait to get out there.
Turning back to the screen, Neo began motioning for Ragna to carry on with his plan so that they could finally put this whole journey behind them; the sooner the better after all. It was time to move on to what the future has in store. All that was left now– was for him to create the new world, erase all the old problems, and ensure the safety of all their futures.
Ragna: *smirk* Well, aren't you enthusiastic?
Neo merely smirked along with giving him a slight glare, letting him know not to patronize her right now.
Ragna: Yeah, I got it. I'll make sure to finish this up quickly, alright.
Neo nodded as she wished him good luck with a thumbs up, to which she then began to reach out for her scroll so that she could end their video call.
Meanwhile, Ragna looked away from his screen, now staring off into the distance as he contemplated one last time at what he plans to do next.
This was it, he thought to himself. This was how it was going to end.
Ragna: …Wait! Before you go, there is... just one more thing I have to tell you.
Upon hearing the sudden request, Neo held back from ending the call, her finger just hovering right above the button; curiosity now imbuing itself on her face.
Ragna: I know this is a bit late, but... I need to explain one more thing to you.
Neo listened in carefully, ready to hear what he had to say.
Ragna: You know how I said that– to make sure we never have to deal with this again, we'd have to get rid of all the problems that caused all of this in the first place?
Neo nodded, a little concerned as to where he was getting at.
Ragna: Well… one of those problems… happens to be something called "The Centralfiction”.
Neo tilted her head, curious and intrigued as to what exactly such a thing could be. Ragna had never brought it up before until now.
Ragna: Basically it’s– the Dream seen by God, something that is constantly monitored by the Master Unit until it gets what it wants.
Neo nodded, slightly understanding now.
Ragna: And as long as the Centralfiction exists, the Master Unit will continue to observe this world and interfere with it until it gets exactly what it's looking for. So to make sure this doesn't happen, I’m going to have to get rid of it.
Now Neo understood completely, this “Centralfiction” is simply another issue that needed to be taken care of to make sure they can finally carry on without any more problems. Not that it should be too much trouble however, especially since Ragna is on the case.
Ragna: Now as for what the Centralfiction is... well...
Ragna paused for a moment, silence being all that passed through the screen before carrying on with what he wanted to say.
Neo froze as she registered what Ragna had just said.
Torchwick: *sigh* That sure took a while. Buuut~, I suppose I can’t complain about the results.
Roman Torchwick, Vale’s well-renowned top criminal, fiddles around with a stack of cash in his hands as he makes his way towards the door to his hideout.
After having gone out to do some business, Torchwick has made quite the hefty amount of money from selling vital information relating to the recent events. With his knack for negotiations and his connections to certain people, he had successfully made a killing of this recent scheme. Stuffing his newly acquired wealth in his pockets, Torchwick pulled out his keys and began searching for the right one to unlock the door; his mind thinking back to Neo and how she had been waiting for Ragna to reach her since he left.
Torchwick: Hopefully Ragna finally called, that way me and Neo can finally get back to work. I'm going to need her head in the game, if we want to catch up on some things.
Sticking a key into the keyhole, the door to Torchwick's hideout has finally opened. Taking a step inside, Torchwick began to call out for his pink, petite accomplice.
Torchwick: Neo! Are you still here?
Walking further in, Torchwick could hear the sound of a kettle whistling in the kitchen.
Torchwick: hm… Must be busy.
Assuming that Neo may have been in the kitchen, Torchwick made his way towards the living room section to where he, to his surprise, found Neo sitting all by herself near the dining table. He noted how odd it was for her to ignore the sounds of the tea kettle whirling and began taking notice of the items lying on the table. He saw what appeared to be a messy handkerchief to her side, an open notepad to her right, and… a scroll propped directly at the center of the table.
Upon seeing the placement of the scroll, Torchwick realized that Neo must’ve recently finished a call to whom he could presumably assume was with Ragna.
Torchwick: Hey Neo. How’s it been? Did you just get into contact with Ragna? Did he give any good news?
Torchwick watched as Neo flinched upon hearing his voice, supposedly snapping out of whatever daze she had just been in. Her back had been turned against him the entire time, preventing him from seeing her face. For a moment, she looked as if she was about to turn around and meet him eye-to-eye, only to instead stay where she was and kept her expression hidden away from his sights.
Torchwick: What was with the weak response? Don’t tell me it’s still not over yet, is it? We still got a lot of work to do, schemes needing to be made. How long did Ragna say it was going to take? The sooner the better.
Neo remained motionless, not once moving an inch to show that she was listening, not once showing a proper response.
Torchwick began to move in a little closer in an attempt to get a better idea of what was up with her, but as soon as he did, Neo shot up out of her seat almost instantly.
There was a brief pause between the two before Neo turned around and moved towards him, entrapping Torchwick in a big embrace. She buried her face into his coat, tightening her hold around him and not once showing any sign of wanting to let go.
Being caught off guard by the sudden hug, Torchwick was left surprised… and confused.
Torchwick: So… what’s with the sudden sentimentality?
Neo didn’t show any kind of response and simply kept hugging, to which Torchwick decided to let her carry on, and awkwardly returning the gesture in the process.
After a minute or two, Neo eventually let go, backing away to give Torchwick some space and revealing her face to now hold that of a soft smile.
Torchwick didn’t understand what was all that about and was about to ask until something caught his eye. Within Neo's eyes, he noticed how swollen and glassy they were, noting how it almost looked as if–
Coming to a realization, Torchwick looked down at his coat and noticed how there were wet stains from where Neo had buried her face at. It wasn’t hard to put two-and-two together.
Torchwick: Neo, were you… crying?
Neo glanced away, choosing to look out the window instead, the sun beginning to shine down on her through the glass. She took a deep breath as she thought back on everything that had led up to this point, simply taking it all in.
Torchwick: Hey, did… something happen?
Neo turned back towards Torchwick, her face giving nothing but a soft genuine smile that emitted nothing but reassurance. Her expression appeared sweet, and though her eyes remained watery, it didn’t sway her emotions one bit.
Out of nowhere, Neo pulled out a sign that held texts which read:
Don't worry, I'm fine now. Everything is fine now.
Ragna: …It’ll be okay. …I'll take care of everything now…
Amane: You've certainly taken your time.
Ragna: Sorry… I got a little preoccupied.
Amane: Nonsense, how could I deny such an amazing curtain call as that… Ahh… to be in love. It certainly is a wonderful feeling.
Ragna: Glad to be of service then… Thanks for all the help by the way.
Amane: It was no trouble really. Call it my thanks for such a wonderful dance.
Ragna: …I guess this is it then.
Amane: It would appear so. *sigh* It's so unfortunate that I can’t remember such a beautiful performance. The name “Amane” sheds a tear…
Amane: I see… so what do “you” intend to do now?
Ragna: I'm going to bring everyone's “dreams” into the Azure. The world that'll be created… will live without any interruptions… No more gods to disturb it. Soon… it'll be free… It'll be everyone’s world.
Amane: And I take it you don’t have any regrets.
Ragna: Not at all. I did what I needed to do… I don’t regret a damn thing.
Amane: I suppose even love shan’t hold you down.
Ragna: Hold me down…? Nah… it was nothing like that.
Ragna: If anything… it only pushed me further.
Ragna: So… yeah… To make sure something like this never happens again… I'm going to have to… erase my own existence.
As Ragna continued to explain his upcoming fate, Neo had kept her head down the entire time, not knowing how to meet his gaze.
Ragna: Everything that we have done, everything that I am… will all be forgotten. Soon… you, the others, and the rest of the world– will all forget me. It'll be like I never existed. And just like that… that’ll be the end of the road for me.
Neo’s mind wandered as she processed all that she had just heard. For the world to move on and for everyone to live in peace… they have to– forget Ragna. Live like he never existed? It was quite a lot to take in... and a lot for her to want to accept.
Regardless, doing this would prove to be better for everyone in the long run. This would ensure that they all could live peacefully... and that the world would be all safe... and that they can all live freely without any worries... But still...
Neo couldn’t stop this painful feeling in her chest.
Ragna: Hey… don’t look so down. You get to still keep on living the way you want. Sure, I won’t be there anymore, but… I mean, I was only ever there to watch your back, make sure you were protected from Susano; and seeing how you don’t need that anymore, I think you can take it from here.
Ragna simply chuckled at his own response, not once showing any sign of disappointment anywhere in his voice.
Ragna: And hey, to be honest with you, you– probably never needed my help in the first place. Knowing you, I’m sure you would have found some other way to watch over yourself, whether you had met me or not. You're just resourceful like that.
Neo slowly looked up into her scroll as Ragna spoke, noticing how calming of a smile he had been carrying. A smile that displayed no regrets whatsoever, a smile that showcased nothing but sincerity to all who look upon it, a smile… so genuine, so reassuring, it canceled out any kind of negativity around it.
To think that a smile this warm, this pleasant, would come from a guy known as “The Grim Reaper”. It truly was something phenomenal.
Ragna: With that said, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Just keep on going about the way you normally do. It’ll all be fine; as long as you and everyone else gets to carry on and live your lives, then I’ll be fine. So don’t you worry bout a damn thing, okay?
Neo didn’t know what to make of her emotions. On one hand, she gets to live at peace, in whatever way she wishes to. But on the other hand, she has to give up the guy she grew to be attached to after all this time. Who knew that a fake relationship with someone would have meant this much to her, and after so long of simply seeing it as a means to an end. She truly has grown to like him, she truly has come to enjoy his presence, to adore his passion, to relish in his cockyness, and to be fascinated by his persistence. She truly has grown to love everything about him.
And now that it is time for him to leave... and for their relationship to end… she frankly, didn’t want to let him go. She wanted him to stay.
She didn’t care if his presence but trouble to others, nor did she care about whether or not they have to go through another apocalyptic event. If it meant that someone like Ragna can stay indefinitely, then she was all for it. …and yet…
She couldn’t bring herself to act selfish this time around.
A light chuckle then escaped her throat as tears shed down her cheek, her sadness– no longer able to be held back anymore.
Ragna: Hey hey! It'll be okay! Everything is going to be fine, and you’ll still have Roman by your side so it’s not like you’re going to be alone! I know this is very sudden and… pretty selfish of me to end things off like this, …but-
With a quick shush to silence Ragna, Neo lifted her head to reveal to him that the expression she carried was not that of sorrow, but instead… that of reassurance. With a soft smile adorned on her face, she held up her notepad one last time, to which it read:
If this is what you want to do, then who am I to stop you.
Ragna: …You’re… really okay with this?
*Flip* You know what you want and you know what you’re doing.
*Flip* I’ve got nothing to worry about.
Ragna: … *smiles* You really trust me then?
Neo nodded, after all that they have been through, how could she not.
Ragna: *sigh* Still don’t know how you do it. Every time… every damn time, no matter how unconventional it can be… you always have a way to bring a smile to my face.
Neo felt happy to hear that.
Ragna: I really am sorry I have to leave like this, but I’m really glad I got to hang out with you for as much as I did.
Neo understood, she wasn’t going to fault him for leaving her behind, especially not when it was for her benefit.
Ragna: Just know that– even when you forget me, everything is going turn out alright. Even when I’m not at your side anymore, you’ll do just fine, no matter what comes your way.
Teardrops fell from Neo’s cheeks, she nodded in understanding as she dabs the tears away with a handkerchief.
Ragna: With all that said… this is it then. …This is… goodbye.
Neo lightly waved her hand farewell, as her finger hovered over the end call button. She looked at Ragna one more time and gave him the most genuine smile she could muster, to which Ragna did the same.
Torchwick: *Exhale* …That Ragna… what a guy, huh. To do all that… and have no regrets whatsoever. He really is something else.
Neo nodded in agreement, he really was unique.
Torchwick: And yet... not once would he consider himself a hero. You’d think this make up for all the bad he did, no?
Neo shrugged as she thought to herself, Ragna would never consider himself as a good guy, nor did he liked ever being referred to as such by the others. He’d even go out of his way to avoid hanging with them solely because he didn’t want to leave a bad influence. He may have done a lot of crimes, he may be rough around the edges, but what’s a guy with that kind of heart doing with their kind of status.
Torchwick: Well, he’s free to act whatever way he wants. Come on. *Gets up from his chair* Let’s get going. We got a lot of work to do.
Neo nodded as she stood up from her chair, her mind still thinking back on her last moments with Ragna.
Torchwick: Hey… just out of curiosity, but why didn’t you try to stop him. I know he’s stubborn and all that, but… given it’s you who’s asking, you could've at least tried. Who know’s? Maybe he would’ve stayed.
Neo shook her head, she doubted that he would have changed his mind. Something such as that would have to have been out of his volition rather than somebody else’s. But to be more exact…
Neo raised up a sign towards Torchwick's view, the texts reading:
Not only that it wouldn’t have worked…
*Flip* I simply didn’t want to.
Neo didn't even hesitate to reveal her answer.
*Flip* Because I didn’t want to make it any harder for him.
Ragna… was a man who faced many hardships. From the way his childhood had been taken from him. To the way he was forced into any conflict that had nothing to do with him. And to the way he lost any chance of a peaceful future. Always forced to fight, always forced to survive, and never getting a chance to take it easy or to have any moment of peace for himself. Suffice to say, he had it pretty rough for quite a long time.
It wasn’t until she came along that he finally got a chance to know what it truly meant to feel alive, to where he started have some fun and began to relax.
To know that she was that person for him, filled her with a sense of warmth and accomplishment, a feeling she didn't recognize so often, but loved nonetheless.
She hoped to continue helping him feel relax, even until the bitter end.
Torchwick: I see… You wanted to go out on good terms. I can abide by that. But still... it must’ve been hard for you to do, right?
Torchwick: A little? Why's that?
*Flip* Because at that moment, I realized something.
Torckwick: I thought you said you didn’t have any?
*Flip* No, there was something. I just didn’t remember it until then.
Torchwick: And… what would that be?
*Flip* To help the people I love achieve their own dreams.
Neo held a beaming smile as she thought back to Ragna one last time.
*Flip* And should his be to save the world…
Then that’d be my dream too.
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