A Game of Fate

Chapter 9

Goddess Maki

(The End)

Note: Sorry not updating after all of this time. I got busy over the summer, but now, everything should be back to normal. Personally, for me, I had to do a lot of catching up on this story because it's been the one furthest back in my brain even though the story is supposed to be the most complex out of all the stories I'm writing. Anyway, enough of that… I hope you enjoy the update.

"What do you mean I won't survive?"

"This is where I shall start my story. The Goddess Muse believed that mankind could be given a second chance. That's why she split her powers up. However, history mistakenly believed that she divided her powers evenly. No. that's where I come in. I'm her deterrent; her very own judgment. I would watch over everything to see if mankind could be trusted with its own fate. You are the answer to the question of time. Humankind cannot be trusted with this power so now I'm taking it all back as well as recreating this corrupt world."

At that moment, the ground started to shake as well as beams of lights erupting from the ground. Honoka tried her best to maintain her stance, but the rupture of the ground caused her to fall.

"Watch as your decisions lead this world to a tragic end."

Boom! The temple suddenly exploded a huge wave of wind that sent Honoka down the mountain along with everything else. It was quite a tumble, but when she looked back up, she saw that it was not the same sight as before. the beams of light become one huge beam of light with Maki floating in the air right in front of it.

"What is going on?" Even though the girl explained more of what was happening, Honoka was still very confused. Nothing was making any sense to her.

"C-Come here."

At that moment, Honoka heard a soft voice coming from near her. She spun her head around until she saw Umi lying on the ground. She ran over to her and caressed her in her arms.

"It's okay. I'll find you some help."

"No… It's not worth it."

"You can't say that. I promise I will get you some help."

"No… Instead… Make me this promise… You must stop her," she whispered softly.

"But how am I supposed to do that? She has the intention of destroying the world."

"You can do it. You have our powers."

Honoka suddenly jumped at her words.

"Powers? What do you mean?"

"You beat all of us. Only the ones who defeated all the goddesses are granted the power to stop the last goddess." Umi suddenly coughed up blood. "She stole our powers, but the victorious one can stop her and start anew. It… has to be you."

"But how?"

"She's manifesting her power now. At the last moment of her manifestation, reach into her heart and pull it out. That will stop the destruction of your world. Good luck." At that moment, Umi's body suddenly went limp and her eyes closed, cutting off her view of Honoka.

"Wait… Don't go. I need you! I need your help! Please!"

There was no response. She was gone. Honoka couldn't help but stay there and offer her condolences to this fallen goddess. Once she was done, she ran into town and saw that everyone was going crazy. They all saw the madness that was happening atop Mt. Muse and knew that they had to get out now. However, Honoka searched through town looking for Tsubasa. After about a minute, she saw Tsubasa leaving the bar that she worked. That's when Honoka called out to her and grabbed her attention.

"Honoka, what's going on? Where have you been?"

"I was on Mt. Muse, battling the goddesses. Didn't I tell you this?"

"I doubt it. Even if you did, I wouldn't have thought that you were serious. Anyway… We need to get out of here. Don't you see what's happening here?"

"I know, but I have to stay."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I'm the only one that can stop this from happening."

"What do you mean?"

"She's planning on destroying the world?"

"Eh?! Destroying the world? She?! What are you talking about?!"

"I'll tell you later, but you need to leave now."

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Don't worry about me. Just get out of here."

"Okay. Be careful."

"I will."

The two of them got one last look at each other and then went their separate ways. Honoka stayed and watched Tsubasa leave. Once she was clear of the town, she turned around and headed back to the mountain. When she looked up, she saw that the girl was now glowing. This was what the manifestation was that Umi was talking about. Sweat was starting to roll down the side of her face as she watched this spectacle.

"There is nothing you can do. Kneel before me and I will spare your life."

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline that offer. I have to stop you, for all of our sakes."

"Haha, good luck with that." Maki pointed her arm towards Honoka and suddenly created huge icicle around her. Once they formed, shot them at Honoka.

To her surprise, she was able to dodge them pretty easily. Maki was also surprised that she dodged them so she tried again. Honoka did a good job dodging again, but there was still one left that was coming right for her. She clenched her hand into a fist and smashed the ice to pieces.

"Impossible."

Honoka suddenly looked down at her hands and could feel a strange strength that she had never felt before.

"Is this what Umi was talking about?"

"Not this time." Maki created a hoard of arrows and aimed them right at Honoka. Without wasting any time, she shot them right at her.

When Honoka looked up, it almost seemed as if time slowed down. Her eyes moved in every direction, pointing out where each arrow was going to be in the future. She strategically positioned her body so that none of the arrows would hit her. once the arrows landed behind her, Maki was furious.

"This is impossible!"

"Strength like Eli. Wisdom like Umi. I do have the power." Honoka clenched her fist once more and looked right at Maki. "I'm coming for you now."

Honoka used her knowledge of what she's been through to coordinate her attack. She created a bunch of clones and summoned all sorts of felines. The combination of Nico and Rin would make it easier for her to finish the job. She immediately charged at Maki with everything she had. While she was on defense, Maki shot orbs of energy at Honoka, but she was able to dodge every shot. When they grew near, they started to split apart. Maki was running out of time. There was only one option left. She threw her arms to the side and created an atmosphere that froze everything in its place. This affected all of her clones and beasts until there was only her. That's when Maki lowered herself to the ground and slowly approached Honoka.

"That was an honorable attempt, but you can't beat me when I've fully manifested my power. Now, your time is up." Maki's hand glowed up and shoved it right into Honoka's chest. "Say goodbye to your world."

At that moment, Honoka's body disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

"What?"

"I figured it all out." Honoka jumped out from behind her and drove her hand through Maki's back, connecting her attack to Maki's heart."

"H-How?"

Honoka pulled her arm back and pulled out Maki's heart. Its form only lasted a few seconds until it dissipated into thin air.

"Beating me is impossible. How," she asked softly.

"I figured it out when I dodged your first attack. Your manifestation only revolved around Nozomi's power of magic. With every attack you did, they got stronger so I knew that that was what I needed to wait for. Once you were strong enough to stop me from attacking you, that's when I would make my move. I used Nico's power of cloning to trick you into thinking that that one was me. I used Hanayo's power of sight to find the hole in your defenses. The last thing I did was use all of their powers to pierce through your body. It's over. The world is safe."

"You're making a big mistake. Humans can't be trusted."

"Let's leave that up to fate."

At that moment, Maki's body vanished into thin air while another mistral body formed right in front of her. Honoka couldn't recognize who it was so she remained quiet until they said something first.

"What is your name, my child?"

"K-Kousaka Honoka," she said nervously.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Goddess Muse."

Honoka's jaw suddenly dropped to the floor.

"I know none of this seems possible so allow me to explain everything. What Maki said was true. However, her own interpretation is where things went wrong. I gave the power to take the other's power so that it didn't end up in the wrong hands. I just didn't realize that Maki wasn't wise enough to carry that heavy burden. Now that she has been defeated. All that's left is to give you these powers and have you watch over this world. I trust that you can continue the peace." Muse suddenly opened her hand and an orb of light appeared on it. "Now I can rest in peace knowing that you care for this world."

"Um, may I say something?"

"Of course."

"Is there any way to bring those girls back to life?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you can do anything, seeing as you're alive in front of me right now. I just feel that I'm not worthy of owning all of your powers. The girls who owned them recently did a great job. They didn't deserve that fate. Please, let them live again. I'm positive that that would be the better choice for this world."

"Haha, I like that answer. Very well, I shall grant you that wish, and with that, it is farewell." Suddenly, her entire glowed and them split off into 9 beams of light. Honoka watched as the beams of light returned the bodies of the 9 girls. She was unaware of it, but that light returned life to all of them. The only difference was that Maki no longer owned her previous powers.

After that encounter, Honoka headed back down the mountain with a smile on her face. Before she left though, she was stopped by a familiar voice. She stopped and turned around to see Kotori standing there with a warm smile.

"You're leaving so soon?"

"Yeah, I'm tired and there's no reason for me to be here anymore."

"Aw… Well, I just wanted to say thank you and that you're welcome here any time."

"Your welcome, and maybe I'll visit sometime."

"Sounds like a plan." Kotori suddenly walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you soon?"

"Most definitely."

The End

Ending Note: Sorry for the abrupt ending, but I never intended this story to be as long as my other stories. Each chapter emphasized one girl that eventually came down to the final encounter. I hope you all enjoyed the story and I hope you come back as there will be more stories in the future. Thank you so much for the support.