OKAY WOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE. Sorry about that. Life is busy and, for the most part, pretty boring. Ah well.
But here it is! This is it, people. Brace yourselves. The conclusive, epic, slightly ridiculous, long-awaited, reality-shattering showdown between our misfit heroes and the ultimate evil. Or something. You'll see...

Seriously, why are you still reading this? Get on with the story! I think you've waited long enough for this.

Kim and Daniel sparred on the beach, punching, blocking, kicking, parrying, their feet striking up swirls of white sand as they fought. Daniel caught her fist and pushed her back, watching her intently. He spoke up, stepping back into combat.

'You know this might be the only chance we get to talk.'

'I do.'

'And knowing that, you'd rather not talk.'

'Yes.'
'You know, for what it's worth, I-'

'Don't talk.' Kim whispered, ducking under a lightning-fast sweep of Daniel's leg and retaliating with a series of flawlessly blocked punches. 'Fight.' Daniel smiled inwardly, unleashing a lethal uppercut. Kim dodged and stepped backwards, out of his reach, readying herself for a counterattack. Daniel crouched slightly, opening his palms and facing them outwards. She lashed outwards, grunting with exertion as she struck with deadly twin punches. Daniel's hands moved fast; blocking each of her increasingly frenzied blows with balanced calmness. She punched again and again, in earnest now, her blows growing weaker and easier for Daniel to turn aside.

'Stop. Don't lose control.' he said quietly, thrusting out his palms in counterattack and sending Kim staggering backwards. She leapt back forwards instantly, striking out with a clumsy kick and then returning to her flurry of punches. 'Stop.' he repeated, frowning. She ignored him, continuing her waning assault. 'Stop.'

He angled both palms deftly, catching both her fists simultaneously and pulling her towards him, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace. Her breath caught in her throat, taken off-guard by his sudden movement, but she unclenched her fists and let her hands drape themselves over his back.

'Stay in control. As long as you do, I can.' he murmured softly, hugging her tightly. 'We'll survive. Together.'

'I... I…' Kim mumbled uncharacteristically, scowling at herself and pressing her face against his chest. He was cool to the touch. 'What are we-'

'Don't think about any of that.' he interrupted. 'We have to help our friends. Sometimes, that means putting your own emotions aside and fighting for others.' He made to release her, but she didn't let go. '…it's what I've done all my life.'

'You can't let that be who you are.' Kim replied.

'I know. But it's easier that way.'

'The person I love would never take the easy way out.' she whispered. Daniel froze, transfixed by her face as she looked up and their eyes met. She smiled; a wide, true, kind smile that she had never smiled before. 'I wish it could be different.' she said solemnly, the smile fading as quickly as it had come. 'But this… it's safer for you, for me. Nobody gets hurt.'

'I understand.' Daniel said shortly, nodding. She released him, the two of them backing away from each other across the sand. They circled each other warily for a few moments, wordlessly. 'Now; do you think you can throw a better punch?'

Stephen Stills strode purposefully through the crowd swarming in the Rockit club. The building had been sold cheaply after its destruction at the hands of Dallas' minions and purchased by one of Kasumi's subordinates in Canada, at Daniel's recommendation. They had poured an exorbitant sum into improving it, remaking the club in everything but name; the floorboards no longer squeaked when he walked, the bar served cocktails rather than shots, the headlining band of the night were dressed classily in matching black suits. Stills paused for a moment, rotating in a full circle to gain his bearings; the layout of the club had been altered slightly. He changed course, headed for the bar.

'Hey, Stephen Stills!' a voice called out from several metres to his left, distracting him from his course. He stopped in his tracks, standing solid as a tree trunk as several exuberant clubbers bumped into him.

'Wallace?' he mouthed, recognising the voice but failing to locate its source. The crowd parted for a brief moment to reveal Wallace perched on a bar stool, waving merrily. Stills deviated, making his way slowly through the swarming partygoers to where Scott's erstwhile roommate sat. He smiled warmly as Stills took a seat, handing him a bottle of beer that had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

'What brings you to this neck of the woods, friend?' he asked, putting a faintly unwanted hand around Stills' shoulders and pulling him in close. 'I just love the way they've done this place up.'

'Uh… yeah…' Stills managed weakly, extracting himself from Wallace's encompassing arm and sipping nervously at his beer.

'Something troubling you, darling?' Wallace inquired, finishing off his cocktail and smartly rapping the bar for another. He took a long, hard stare at Stills. 'Girl problems?'

'How did you-'

'Not important, really, is it?'

'I guess not.' he sighed morosely, taking another long swig of beer.

'Want to talk about it?'

'No.'

'You know, handsome, you're not exactly making the best conversation.' Wallace remarked with a knowing wink. Stills frowned.

'I didn't come here to talk to you.' he growled quietly.

'Then what did you-' Wallace was cut short as a black-clad figure sped into view behind Stills, one foot connecting heavily with the back of his head and smashing it against the bar. He rebounded off the polished wooden surface, collapsing backwards onto the floor. His drink was thrown into the air as he fell, Wallace reaching out a hand and catching it without a drop spilled. '…huh. Déjà vu.'

'Ugh…' Stills groaned, rising from the floor and turning to face the livid form of Knives Chau. 'What the hell, Knives?'

'You.' she said shortly, reaching into her belt and drawing out a pair of razor-sharp kunai, pointing one accusingly at Stills. 'You have to die.' Stills' brow furrowed in thought. There was something wrong here; this was insane even by Knives' standards. He lifted both palms in a gesture of peace.

'Look, I just… I just came here to talk. Your friend Tamara told me you were here.' he said evenly, maintaining eye contact.

'Talk? Why should we talk? There's nothing left to talk about.' Knives spat. 'I'm going to kill you.'

'Riiight…' Stills sighed, reaching out a hand. Wallace helpfully placed the bottle of beer into his outstretched fingers and he took a long draught, exhaling deeply as he finished the drink. 'I don't want to fight you, Knives.'

'That's not a decision you get to make.' she snarled, lunging towards him, blades slashing at his throat. He jerked backwards out of their path, swiftly smashing the bottle on the bar and dodging around her. She swept her arm out in a wide arc but he ducked beneath it, slamming the heel of his hand into her chest and sending her staggering backwards.

'Come on, Knives. I don't want to hurt you!'

'Shut up!' she screamed furiously, lunging for him again and narrowly missing his head with her blades. The danced around each other, Knives slashing brutally as Stills struggled to keep his distance. Wallace watched them fight with interest, casually chatting up a bespectacled young man sitting beside him. The fight progressed for several minutes, Knives' attacks growing steadily more vicious until she finally punched through Stills defences, the hilt of one of her kunai colliding heavily with the side of his skull. He fell sideways, stumbling across the Rockit's vacated dance floor and dropping the shattered bottle. Stills swore loudly as Knives leapt atop him, forcing him to the ground with a knife to his throat. Wallace looked on in alarm as she pressed the blade against his skin. Stills breathed out slowly, staring into Knives' furious eyes.

'Knives... why?'

'It isn't Knives.' Daniel spoke quietly from the Rockit's balcony. Knives whirled around suddenly as he leapt from his elevated position, touching down silently on the polished floorboards. 'Isn't that right, Dallas?' Knives' eyes widened at his words. She moved fast, throwing a kunai at Daniel with a deft flick of the wrist, but he was quicker, lifting one hand and freezing her in place within a cocoon of psychic energy. The thrown knife stopped in its path a few inches from his chest, quivering in midair for a moment before dropping.

'What the hell is going on?!' Stills asked irately, getting to his feet.

'Your girlfriend-' Daniel began, but was cut off by Stills.

'Ex-girlfriend.'

'No, your girlfriend was possessed by David Dallas. Her actions were not her own. I can't believe it took me so long to sense him…' Daniel mused as he approached Knives' frozen form, reaching out both palms and pressing them against the sides of her head. There was a distant humming sound as his fingers flickered and blurred, his eyes shut tight. 'Get... out.'

Knives gasped as Daniel released her, taking a quick step backwards before vanishing as swiftly as he had appeared. Stills dashed forwards to catch her as her knees gave way and she collapsed, his hands missing her by inches. She hit the floor with a thud, Stills wincing at the sound.

'Stephen… Stills?' she murmured as he crouched down beside her, resting a careful hand on her shoulder. 'W-where am I?'

'Knives…' Stills muttered, helping her to her feet. He glanced around; people were starting to stare. 'We should probably go.'

'Oh... okay.' she breathed weakly, taking his arm and letting him lead her away. Wallace watched them go, turning back to the bartender with a dazzling smile.

'Whew… exciting night.'

Scott flipped the dishwasher shut, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction for a moment before removing his apron and tossing it aside as he strolled from the kitchen of the Happy Avocado. Nodding nervously to his boss and carefully avoiding Mr Chau's icy gaze as he left the building, he wandered out into the street and set off for home. He slipped one hand into the pocket of his jeans as he walked, fumbling with the tiny object inside. It was cool to the touch. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice Ramona approaching from down the street until she was immediately before him, making him jump in surprise and whip his hand from his pocket. Her hair was a cool ice blue.

'R-Rammy! Hi!' he exclaimed nervously. 'W-what are you doing here?'

'I just thought I'd walk you home.' she explained with a smile, taking his hand and leading him along the street. The snow was starting to melt as the weather became warmer; the evening air was thick with the scent of plant life reappearing from underneath its wintery blanket. It was dark, and the moon was just coming up, a white-grey crescent clipping over the horizon in the distance.

'Oh… okay.' Scott replied. They walked together in silence for a few minutes, navigating to streets until not a person was to be seen. 'I like your hair. Blue suits you-'

'She's going to come for us again.'

'Huh?'

'Discordia.' Ramona spoke quietly, unzipping the Subspace Suitcase and rummaging around in it, drawing out something Scott had never seen before. It was a battered bow of sculpted golden metal; a string ran along its length. She slung the Suitcase over her back, a row of feathered arrows protruding from it. 'I used to use this old thing a lot.' she said in answer to Scott's unasked question. He eyed it nervously as she drew an arrow and balanced it expertly on the bowstring, resting the arrowtip on her finger.

Ramona Equipped Elven Bow!

Damage +20

Range +50

'Well, that should at least keep things interesting.' Scott and Ramona whirled around together as a girl's voice called out from behind them. Scott raised a hand, the light of the Omniblade illuminating the ground around them; Ramona pulled the string taut, aiming into the darkness.

'Discordia…' Scott muttered, staring at the source of the voice.

'Pilgrim. Flowers.' Discordia replied, stepping soundlessly towards them out of the blackness. Her right hand gripped the hilt of her blade, the point grinding against the pavement as she approached. The black feathers of the lone wing that swept from behind her were almost invisible against the night.

'Wait.' Scott said suddenly, holding up his free hand to call a halt to her advance. 'Before we do this, I just want to know… who are you? What do you have against us?' Discordia smiled at the question, an ersatz smile that held no emotion beyond malice.

'Nothing.' she said. Ramona released her grip: an arrow sped through the air between them in an instant, meeting nothing but air as Discordia teleported. Scott was ready; he parried her first attack as it came slicing out of nowhere, pushing the black-haired girl back a few steps and going on the offensive, slashing up and down powerfully against her blocks. Ramona backed away, drawing a second arrow and firing expertly, her shot missing Discordia's head by less than an inch. Scott growled as their blades clashed, removing one hand from the Omniblade's handle to launch a swift flurry of punches to Discordia's chest. She staggered backwards, leaping back into the fight without a moment's rest with a lethal combination of kicks and slashes. Her blade threw up showers of sparks as it danced between them, deflecting another arrow with ease as Discordia fought both her opponents confidently. Scott saw an opening and stabbed, forcing her to duck and leaving her open for another assault. Scott swept the blade around dextrously, leaping over a low swipe from Discordia's legs and slashing down with almighty strength. There was a deafening clang: the Omniblade struck the road, its intended target vanishing. Scott blinked in surprise, looking up to see Ramona frantically dodging Discordia's attacks, ducking and evading fast but not fast enough. The blade sliced open her arm, leaving a light wound, as Scott sprinted towards the duelling girls. Discordia span to block him as he reached the spot where they fought and Ramona saw her chance, drawing an arrow and twirling it in her fingers, plunging it deep into the plumage of Discordia's wing. She cried out in anguish, her grasp on the blade in her hands weakening for a moment. It was all Scott needed: he brought the Omniblade crashing vertically down, shattering the long katana into a shower of metal shards. Discordia vanished again, leaving them standing together, gasping for breath.

'You… you can't beat him.' she wheezed softly, reappearing in the middle of the road several yards away. Ramona drew another arrow, raising the bow and taking aim. 'He planned everything… I see it all now… Flowers, Pilgrim, Pine… Daniel…' She stared at Ramona with dead, empty eyes. Ramona faltered, her quivering fingers gripping the bowstring. 'What are you waiting for? Do it. Kill me. You have to kill me.' Ramona's eyes narrowed, staring back at her.

'I'll do it. I will!' she said sharply, pulling the string back a little further.

'I know you will. You have to. It's what he wants… he planned this from the very beginning. He tricked you all.'

'Rammy, wait-' Scott began, placing a hand on Ramona's shoulder.

'Kill me!' Discordia screamed.

Ramona released the string.

The arrow flew true, spinning on its course before punching clean through Discordia's chest, leaving only a tiny red slit. A thin line of blood began to trickle down it, glistening against her black clothing. She collapsed backwards, landing sprawled on the road.

'…there.' Ramona whispered, breathing heavily. She straightened up.

'Rammy? Ramona? Are you okay?' Scott asked, pulling her into a tight hug.

'It's only him left now, isn't it?' she murmured into his shoulder.

'Yeah. Just him.' he responded, staring at the motionless body lying on the ground just a few metres away. 'Just him.'

'Scott! Ramona!' The two of them broke apart, hearing Daniel's unmistakable voice call out their names. He stepped out of thin air beside them, Kim in tow. 'It's Dallas, I've found him. We can-' He froze as he noticed their expressions, slowly turning to see where the body of Discordia lay.

'It's Dallas' girl. Discordia. We beat her.' Scott said shortly.

'No. No, that's… oh my god…' Daniel answered hoarsely, teleporting to the fallen girl's side. He knelt by her head, cradling her in his hands. 'No, no, no… it can't be you, it can't. It can't.'

'What's happening? Who is she?!' Kim exclaimed in alarm, leading the others as they ran to where Daniel kneeled. He was whispering softly; the black-haired girl in his arms was still breathing, but in ragged, shallow breaths.

'Why did he have to do this to you? Why? You never did anything wrong, nothing, nothing…' Daniel repeated quietly, lifting Discordia's body and pulling her into a dying embrace. 'Katheryne… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.' Kim's eyes widened as she saw that he was crying; tears ran slowly down his face as he rocked back and forth.

'Katheryne?' Scott muttered to Ramona. She gave no reaction. The girl Daniel had called Katheryne opened her mouth, speaking quietly into his ear.

'It was her.' she managed, the wing on her back disintegrating in a cloud of black feathers. Her body transformed; hundreds of coins slipped through Daniel's fingers as she died, cascading onto the ground. He hunched over, hiding his face. Ramona stepped forwards, making to kneel next to him.

'What's going on? Who was that girl?'

'She was my sister.' he said, not turning to face them. 'You killed her.' Ramona gasped in shock, reaching out a hand towards him.

'Daniel, I-'

'You killed her.' he growled, sweeping out a hand and sending her flying backwards with a pulse of psychic energy. She landed painfully, struggling to get to her feet. 'You murdered the only family I had left.' His voice was hard, cold fury tinged in his every word.

'Stop!' Kim cried out, shoving Scott aside and grabbing hold of Daniel's arms, pulling him towards her and pressing her forehead against his, locking his gaze with her own steely eyes. 'Daniel, look at me. This wasn't her fault. It wasn't your fault.'

'Thank you.' Daniel murmured weakly after several agonising seconds, letting his arms go limp and falling back to his knees. 'Thank you.'

'That… that was what Dallas wanted, wasn't it? That's what she meant!' Scott exclaimed, reaching forwards with Kim to help Daniel to his feet.

'He wanted me to lose control. To hurt Ramona. That's why he chose Katheryne…' Daniel confirmed grimly. 'Fucking hell… how did he find her?'

'It doesn't matter, Daniel.' Kim said. Ramona nodded in silent agreement. 'All that matters is that we take Dallas down. We have to.'

'You said something about finding him?' Scott interjected unhelpfully, earning him a pair of icy stares from the girls. Daniel ignored them, nodding gravely.

'Yes. I know where he is; he wants us to come to him. It's time.'

'This is it, huh?'

Scott's words summed up the unspoken feeling between the four of them as they stood together on the white sand of Daniel's home dimension, the sea lapping gently at the shore. Daniel's eyes were closed; Kim watched intently as he moved his hands in complex patterns, fashioning an ornately patterned cube from wisps of shimmering Subspace energy. Ramona was staring out at the ocean, the twin suns high in the sky, her arms wrapped around Scott's waist. She shifted her head slightly, resting it on his shoulder.

'Are we ready?' he asked, breaking their silent vigil for a second time.

'We're as ready as we'll ever be.' Kim answered, not entirely reassuringly.

'We're ready.' Ramona said, the conviction clear in her tone.

'Nearly.' Daniel spoke quietly, flexing his fingers as the cubical shape hovering between his palms grew a little larger. He opened his eyes, glancing over to where Scott and Ramona stood. 'Are you nervous?' The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular.

'A little.' Scott conceded. 'But I know we'll win.' he added as a confident afterthought. 'Rammy?'

'Yeah… I'm scared. I am. This is going to be difficult. We can defeat him, though. Together, he can't beat us.'

'Agreed.' Kim affirmed with a curt nod. Daniel's hands snapped apart, the cube dropping to the sand with a dull, weighty thud. Thin threads of light flowed from its surface, extending forwards out onto the water's surface. In the space of a few seconds, a large metal door had appeared before them, small star scratched haphazardly into its grey surface. There was no doorhandle. Daniel reached out a palm, something inside the door clicking and grinding in response.

'This door,' he said slowly, angling his hand slightly as the metallic sounds continued. 'leads to David Dallas' personal Subspace dimension.' He stopped his movements, the clicking halting with him. 'I don't know what lies behind this door. He will be waiting for us, of that I am certain.'

'This is it, huh?' Scott said, Ramona straightening up and drawing her bow from the Suitcase. He raised a hand; the Omniblade materialised at will. Kim balled her fists.

'Yes.' Daniel said quietly, facing the door. He flicked his wrist, the door swinging wide open. Light engulfed them, blinding them and burning the world around them into senseless nothing. 'This is it.'

When the light faded, they no longer stood on the shore of Daniel's island. An empty whiteness surrounded them, a snowy plain stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. The sky was a perfectly clear blue, yet snow was falling; upon closer inspection it was in fact not falling but rising from the ground in tiny flakes and flurries and drifting slowly up into the air. There was no sun, but a thin band of shining light lay upon the entire horizon, encompassing them. The air was cool and windless.

'Ramona.' The voice was softly mocking, cold in tone but at the same time gentle and melodic. David Dallas stood alone in the snow, clad in black leather, his long hair tinged with white flecks from the snow. His body was adorned with leather straps, each one holding in place a sword or dagger; blades of all different lengths glittered in the surrounding light.

'Dallas.' Ramona growled, drawing an arrow from the Suitcase slung over her shoulder and balancing it on the bow in her hands.

'Hello, David.' Daniel greeted him calmly, offering a slight nod. His hands had balled into fists; his whitening knuckles the only sign that he was anything other than his usual unfazed self.

'Ah, hello to you, Daniel. We really didn't get a chance to catch up properly when I saw you last. I believe you were rather preoccupied with attempting to separate my head from my shoulders.' The last few words were tinged with a joking attitude in his voice, but Dallas' eyes were hard and unemotional.

'Cut the crap.' Scott said firmly, taking a step forwards. He glared at the black-clothed man standing opposite him in the rising snow. 'We're here to take you down.'

'Scott Pilgrim, is it? The next person Ramona here plans on breaking the heart of? How sweet.' Dallas snorted, gazing coolly at the Omniblade poised in Scott's grasp. 'I'm going to kill you. Then I'm going to kill Grayson's little girlfriend. Then I'm going to kill Grayson. Then I'm going to kill Flowers.'

'No.' Kim said quietly. She had been staring at the ground in silence: now she looked up, steely eyes fixed on Dallas. He smirked, mouth contorting cruelly.

'No? You think you're going to defeat me, girl. Kimberly Pine, the girl who was rejected by everyone. The girl whose trust was betrayed. The girl who was all alone.' Dallas tilted his head sideways, staring at her with an uncanny calm. 'How can you still have hope? Look at yourself. You are nothing next to me: weak, pathetic.'

'I'm not alone.' Kim answered, Scott nodding silently.

'Right.' Ramona affirmed, tightening the drawstring of her bow. Dallas made no reaction at first; merely watching the four friends tense their bodies for battle.

'You'll fight me here? In my own dimension? In my world?' He chucked shortly, a low, mirthful sound. 'I own this place. So I'm afraid your tricks will be of little use to you here, Daniel Grayson.' As he spoke, he raised a hand lazily, fingers outstretched towards Daniel.

'Daniel?' Ramona hissed at the red-haired young man. He did not respond. 'Daniel?!'

Daniel collapsed, a breath leaving his body as he seemed to deflate, slumping forwards onto the snow and laying there, twitching involuntarily. Ramona was the first to his side, kneeling by his shivering form as he raised his head, palms pressing down into the snow to lift himself shakily to his feet. He shook his head, growling.

'My head…' he muttered, straightening up and massaging his temples. 'Damping field. No psychic…' He flexed his arms; Dallas watched them motionlessly.

'What's to stop me from collapsing this dimension right now and destroying us all?' he said coldly, flicking his wrist. The band of white light that surrounded them on the horizon seemed to contract, closing in on them as the Subspace world shrunk around where they stood.

'You won't do that. You'd die too: you're not going to sacrifice yourself.' Ramona said, sounding more confident than she felt.

'Quite right.' Dallas replied, the light retreating. 'Come on, then. You came here to fight, so fight.' Scott made to leap towards the long-haired young man, but Kim held out a hand, making him pause.

'Wait.' she said sharply, taking a single step towards Dallas. 'Even if we kill you, we'll still die. This dimension will collapse in an instant.'

'Very astute of you, Miss Pine. And I'm afraid that there is no way for you to escape: this Subspace dimension is quite secure.' Dallas gave a small chuckle. 'You're doomed.'

'We'll see about that.' Daniel snarled, diving forwards and breaking into a sprint, running full-pelt at his old foe. Dallas was fast; his fingers plucked two daggers from sheaths on his shoulders and flung them at his approaching opponent, but Daniel reacted in time, sidestepping the first and ignoring the second as it grazed his arm, drawing a little blood. Dallas' brow furrowed as Daniel closed in with increasing speed; he drew a long ninjato sword from his belt and swung it horizontally, but Daniel leapt, rotating slowly in midair as he barrelled headfirst towards him. Daniel reached out a hand, fingers brushing against Dallas' pale forehead, and then he was simply gone, a slight flurry of snow kicking up as Dallas staggered backwards. He regained his balance, brushing the whiteness from his leather attire and fixing his gaze on the three remaining friends.

'Oh, Daniel. Daniel, you clever, clever boy.' he hissed grimly. 'Actually getting inside my head… but that won't save you.' He drew a second ninjato, spinning the two swords confidently in his hands as four more blades appeared to draw themselves from the sheaths that covered his body, hovering around him, deadly-sharp points aimed at Scott. In the gently spiralling inverted snowfall, the invisible hands that gripped them could just be made out; four snaking tendrils led back from each one to Dallas' back, undulating lazily in the air.

'Rammy… Kim…' Scott murmured, levelling the Omniblade. Kim raised her fists, poised to throw herself at Dallas. '…let's take this asshole down.' And with that, they leapt into battle against David Dallas.

Ramona's arrows were the first to strike, a rapid salvo blurring through the air but expertly dodged by their adversary. Two of the floating blades flew into position and deflected another two shots as Scott charged, sweeping the Omniblade with both hands and clashing the blade against the two ninjatos. Dallas swept his arms upwards, forcing Scott back in a shower of sparks as the blades grinded against each other and launching a brutal kick to Scott's chest. He was knocked back; sword twirling in his hands to fend off the attacks from the hovering knives as Ramona sniped from several paces away, evading a short sword thrown headlong by one of the invisible hands. Kim came out of nowhere, a lightning-fast uppercut connecting with Dallas' chin and sending him staggering backwards, Scott going back on the offensive and slashing aside the ghostly tendrils to reach their owner.

'Get down!' he yelled, slicing out at Dallas as Kim rolled out of the path of his blade, reaching up to wrestle a thin dagger from an unseen hand and being lifted off her feet, the dagger falling away as the fingers closed around her neck. Scott reversed his grip on the Omniblade, dropping to a crouch and lashing out with a simultaneous kick and a sweeping slash of his sword, cutting clean through the ethereal arm that held Kim captive. The hand vanished in an instant, dropping her back to her feet where she snatched up the fallen dagger and sent it spinning through the air towards Dallas' head. He turned with a slight leap, throwing down one of the swords in his hand and catching the flying dagger between two fingers, flicking his wrist and cutting a shallow wound on Scott's arm as he charged again, kicking the ninjato aside and bringing the Omniblade crashing down. Dallas evaded again, ducking under another flurry of punches from Kim, but an arrow caught his leg and he dropped to one knee.

'Now!' Ramona yelled, loosing another arrow, but Dallas was anticipating it. He let himself fall backwards onto the snow, one hand ripping the arrow from his calve with a spurt of blood as the other parried Scott's attack, the second arrow whistling harmlessly overhead. His back never hit the ground; three more hands pushed down on the snow and lifted him into the air, spinning the ninjato in both hands as he descended towards Ramona. She threw herself aside, the speeding blade missing her neck by inches and slicing off a long lock of her hair, Dallas slamming down onto the ground feet first. Scott wasted no time, leaping in front of Ramona and duelling furiously with Dallas. Kim snatched up the blade he had kicked aside; seizing another invisible arm by the wrist, she cut clean through it just as one of Ramona's arrows pierced the palm of a third. The tendrils flickered briefly into view as they disintegrated, Dallas snarling in visible pain as they were destroyed. The final hand drew a large katana from a scabbard on his back and he leapt at Scott, dodging Ramona's arrows and attacking savagely with three blades. Scott blocked and parried, but Dallas was faster, his ninjato nicking a small but deep cut on Scott's thigh: blood flecked onto the snow as his foe pushed the attack, advancing steadily behind his whirling swords. There was an almighty shower of sparks as katana clashed with Omniblade, forcing the points of both down to the snow and leaving Scott exposed.

'I thought you were better than this, Pilgrim.' Dallas growled, raising the ninjato and holding the tip of the straight sword inches from Scott's eye. 'I thought you had more to offer me. But you're nothing. You're pathetic.' Scott raised his free hand, batting aside the ninjato with his palm, only for it to be replaced in an instant by the short blade in Dallas' other hand. The katana gripped by the final invisible arm was still pinning the Omniblade in place.

'I do have more to offer.' Scott replied defiantly, locking eyes with his opponent despite the knifepoint quivering mere inches before his face. 'I have my friends.' And then Kim was behind them, seizing Dallas' wrist and delivering a brutal kick to the back of his legs. Scott reacted in a heartbeat, stepping backwards and spinning on the spot, bringing the Omniblade slicing upwards in a wide arc. The katana leapt in the air, attempting to deflect the blow, but the force of Scott's blade was too much. The curved blade dropped to the snow, the invisible hand dissipating in a swirl of white. David Dallas staggered backwards, brandishing the ninjato furiously.

'You fuckers! You think you can just beat me like that?!' he screamed, throwing the blade aside and raising both hands. 'Nobody beats me! Nobody!' The inverted snowfall froze, snowflakes hanging in the air all around them as the ground shook violently, threatening to send them stumbling. The band of light that encircled them was speeding inwards, and as it drew closer Scott could see that it was far taller than any of them: a surrounding wall of bright white fire, twenty feet high, burning with a fierce light as it closed in. Ramona screamed, the ring of flames almost upon them, when it suddenly froze. The fire itself remained in motion, swirling all around them, but the contracting motion of the wall had stopped.

'So.' Daniel spoke quietly, making the others jump. He was standing near the edge of the clearing, one hand raised to the flames, being careful not to make contact. 'What will you do now, David?'

'Hah… you think this was all I had? Retard…' Dallas spat, brushing snow from his leather clothes and blood from his lower lip. Scott checked his leg; the wound stung sharply, but didn't appear too bad an injury.

'The inside of your head is like a warzone.' Daniel said drily, turning away from the burning wall and approaching Dallas' hunched form. He had dropped the ninjato: it lay in the snow at his feet. Daniel seized him by the shoulder and pulled him upright, drawing back a fist and punching Dallas squarely in the jaw, sending him sprawling onto the ground. The swirling fire that surrounded them evaporated in an instant, leaving only a blank, snow-specked landscape that stretched on into infinity in every direction. The motionless snow began to fall as normal. Daniel nodded in satisfaction.

'What will you do now, David?' Ramona asked. Her bow was raised, an arrow drawn from the quiver and aimed at the long-haired man who lay in the snow, but her tone was gentle.

'You think you've won… don't you? Well?' Dallas coughed, propping himself upright on one arm. 'Do you?'

'We have won, Dallas. It's over.' Kim said firmly, glaring at him. He chuckled darkly.

'Over? Sure, it's over… for you fools.' Dallas stood suddenly, drawing himself up to his fully height, snatching up the blade as he straightened up and twirling it between his fingers. 'I will not make your deaths quick.'

Ramona shut her eyes and released the bowstring, the arrow flying true to its target. She heard Scott gasp and her eyes snapped open, expecting to see Dallas wounded by her shot. Instead he still stood, one arm outstretched, the head of the arrow clasped in his fist, trembling slightly. She moved fast, reaching for the quiver on her back, but something hit her from nowhere, a sudden blackness enveloping her and throwing her bodily backwards. From the corner of her eye she saw Kim staggering backwards, shadowy tendrils slamming into her and sending her falling to the ground. Scott had raised his blade defensively just in time, and was only knocked back a step by the dark explosion, while Daniel dematerialised and reappeared several feet away, taking Kim's hand and pulling her up as the blackness receded. Ramona rose unsteadily to her feet, having been knocked down onto the snow.

'Weak.' Dallas said coldly, coming into view as the shadows retreated and formed dark wreaths of energy that drifted around his body. He raised a hand, flexing his fingers idly and tossing the ninjato aside. His fingers blurred slightly, black pixels glittering into existence and shaping themselves into a curving blade that shimmered in the air. Dallas raised the katana dextrously, adopting a combat stance.

David Dallas equipped the Power Of Darkness!

+1000 Damage

+100% Critical Hit Chance

+5 Evil

'Shit.' Kim said, taking a step backwards, and raising her fists. 'Guys?'

'Come on, we can still beat him.' Ramona replied reassuringly, but her voice shook as she spoke.

'He doesn't even need the boosted Evil stat…' Scott muttered to himself, hefting the Omniblade. Daniel stepped forwards, placing a hand on Scott's wrist and making him lower the blade.

'Don't. He's too powerful; I can sense it.'

'Are you joking?!' Scott asked indignantly, trying to push past him. 'We've got to finish him!'

'No. It's not safe. Ramona might get hurt. Do you want that?' Daniel countered, painfully aware of Dallas's eyes on his back.

'No, I don't…'

'Alright. So take her, get out of here. Kim, too. I'll finish this alone, this is a fight I started.'

'What?! No way!' Kim shouted, grabbing Daniel's arm. 'We're not going anywhere!' Ramona nodded vigorously in agreement.

'Yes, you are. You have done enough. This isn't an argument.' Daniel replied. Suddenly the four of them were standing several metres away from Dallas, Daniel's outline phasing momentarily as he teleported them. 'Listen to me. Scott, Ramona… you're got something here that is amazing. It's real love, more than I've ever had.' He glanced at Kim: she stared back with a stony gaze. '…or maybe I thought I had. But if one of you gets hurt here, you might die. And I can tell you right now that I will not allow that to happen. You need each other to survive, and I won't put your lives in jeopardy.' Scott and Ramona opened their mouths to protest in unison, but Daniel lifted a palm to silence them and turned to match Kimberly's stare. 'And you. There comes a time where we must all fight for what we must protect, and I'm doing that now.' He reached out and took her hand, pulling her close to him. 'I know I can defeat him. I don't know if I can do so and survive. So I'm telling you now: I love you, Kimberly Pine. I can't explain it. But I do.' He bent down his head slightly, darting a quick kiss onto her lips. His red hair brushed against hers for a moment.

'Daniel…' she whispered, her voice tinged with a horrible, crushing fear that Scott had never heard from her before.

'Goodbye.' Daniel said shortly. Ramona, Kim and Scott saw nothing but darkness for a brief moment, before the three of them collapsed onto the carpeted floor of Ramona's home. They lay there for a few seconds, dazed, before Kim leapt to her feet.

'No! NO!' she screamed, clapping her hands. A Subspace door burst into existence on the wall and she flung it open, revealing a dust-blasted yellow plain. She slammed it shut and sprinted across the room, another door appearing and swinging wide to show nothing but blackness beyond its frame. The snapped her fingers and a third door appeared right in the centre of the room, sparks skittering from it as it materialised with a pulse of Subspace energy. She made for the door, but Ramona grabbed her wrist as she placed her hand on the doorknob.

'Stop it! You're using too much Subspace energy trying to get back to him; you'll tear this place apart!' Ramona yelled in Kim's face, vanishing the doors with a wave of her hand. 'Kim! Listen to me!' Kim stared blankly at her for several seconds, before seeming to deflate: she sank to the floor, resting on her knees, eyes shut tightly.

'Why did he do that?' Scott inquired to no-one in particular, scrambling over the where Kim knelt and sitting next to her, arms wrapped around his knees. Ramona took a seat on the sofa, a dejected expression on her face.

'I didn't get to tell him…' Kim began quietly, but the effort to speak left her mid-sentence and she fell silent with the others. They sat there together in silence, waiting.

Daniel Grayson and David Dallas circled each other slowly on the snow of the Subspace dimension.

'I did not expect that of you, Daniel…' Dallas began coldly, but his adversary cut him off.

'I'm going to give you one chance, David.' he said, his voice monotone, as if he were only half paying attention. 'Walk away, right now, and never come back.'

'And what, do tell, might I get in return for such an act of kindness?'

'I will forgive you.' Daniel answered quietly. Dallas smirked.

'Oh, you'll forgive me, will you? I'm so very tempted. The forgiveness of Daniel Grayson: now that would be quite a thing to have…' he drawled, twirling the dark katana in his hand. '…I refuse.'

'Oh your own head be it.' Daniel returned evenly, matching his foe's malevolent stare. He stretched out one hand, white pixels blinking into life in little wreaths around his fingers and forming into a blade identical to Dallas' in every way save for colour; Daniel's sword glowed a cool white.

Daniel Grayson equipped the Power Of Forgiveness!

+50 Damage

+50 Speed

+10 Righteousness

'Thought you weren't going to forgive me?' Dallas taunted from across the snow.

'This is a very different kind of forgiveness, David.'

'Is it now. Well, let's see about that!' The black-haired man leapt into motion, sprinting towards Daniel and launching into the air to deliver a spinning kick which missed by mere inches. Their blades clashed, not with a clang of steel on steel but with a digital hum of energy. The fighting was mind-numbingly fast, katanas dancing with fists and feet flying as both combatants struggled to match the other's furious speed. Daniel sidestepped an upwards slash, blocked a light punch and countered with a solid kick that connected with Dallas' chest, forcing him backwards but giving him time to parry Daniel's next strike, deflecting the blade and cutting a long wound across his opponent's arm. Daniel winced at the injury, swatting the flat of the Power Of Darkness' blade aside with an open palm before continuing his attack. The two young men duelled for what felt like an indeterminable amount of time, each of them wearing down the other with their constant assaults. The falling snow had vanished from the plain; the air was perfectly clear. Another thing became perfectly clear to Daniel as the fight progressed. He was losing. Dallas was relentless, barrage after barrage of attacks raining down, forcing Daniel backwards, taking its toll bit by bit, the aggression unending, unstoppable. Dallas knew it, too; he pushed his advances but remained cautious, unprepared to let arrogance overcome him and allow his body to take risks. He locked blades with Daniel, closing the space between them and delivering a punch that sent the tall young man reeling. Daniel regained his composure fast, but not fast enough. Dallas had the upper hand now: he bore down on Daniel with an almighty array of crushing manoeuvres, finally sending the Power Of Forgiveness flying from his hand and dissipating into a cloud of white pixels on the snow.

'Well, well well.' Dallas snickered, advancing towards his downed opponent. 'That was depressingly easy. I expected more of you, Daniel.'

'Leave them alone.' Daniel hissed from the ground, nursing his wounds.

'Oh, I'm sorry, what?'

'Leave them alone. Ramona, Scott... Kim...' he growled weakly, gritting his teeth in pain. He rose to one knee. 'You've got me. Kill me. But don't hurt them.'

'You're offering yourself up as a sacrifice? How very noble of you. But here's the thing, Grayson...' Dallas stalked closer, lashing out with one foot to send Daniel crashing back onto his back. '...I was always going to kill you. What you have in not a bargaining chip; merely a debt I intend to collect. And I'm afraid that I am going to hurt your little friends, and Ramona too. With you gone, whatever will they do?' He gave a short bark of laughter. 'I'm going to make them suffer. Consider yourself lucky, Daniel. Your death will be quick. But them... I'm going to torture them. Burn them, skin them, spite them, and everyone they care about. I will raze their lives to the ground. And you're going to die knowing that after all you've done, you cannot stop it. You cannot stop me.'

'You're insane...' Daniel snarled, trying to rise back up, but Dallas held the blade close to his throat. His tone switched in an instant from detached and cruel to jovial and mocking.

'Maybe. But you know what? I don't care! All I want is revenge, my dear old friend! All I want! And do you know why I want that? Do you?' he sniggered, pressing the blade against Daniel's neck. 'Because of how you humiliated me.'

'You used her! You used Ramona! And you think that what I did was wrong?!' Daniel cried out in frustration.

'I deserved her!' Dallas screeched, the pressure of his sword increasing. 'She was mine!'

'You manipulated her!' Daniel shot back, furious now. Dallas stared at him coolly for several seconds.

'I guess it's irrelevant now, isn't it?' he said, giving a warm smile. 'What's finished is finished. And now, Daniel Grayson, so are you.' He raised the blade, gripping the handle with both hands.

'You... you're just evil...'

'Damn right I am. Good old fashioned straight-up plain evil. And I love it.' Dallas winked, bringing the blade slicing down.

A door opened.

Daniel's hand shot out, catching the blade in flight and grasping it in his palm.

'Impossible...' Dallas murmured.

'I'm not leaving him.' Kim muttered, standing in the centre of the room with her eyes shut and arms outstretched. 'I won't.'

'Kim... Kim, he's-' Scott began, but she cut across him forcefully.

'Shut up!' Her fingers twitched; the edges of Scott's vision seemed to blur slightly.

'What the hell?' Ramona mouthed, Kim breathing heavily.

'We. Are going. To save him. Now.' she intoned, clenching her fists. The walls of the room retreated into nothingness, a sudden blackness enveloping the three friends. Kim fell to one knee, gasping for air and clutching her throat.

'Oh my god...' Scott managed in weak disbelief, rushing to Kim's side and helping her back upright. 'Did Daniel teach you to do that?' Kim did not reply. He glanced around him, taking in the familiar environment. They stood on the wooden porch of Daniel's home, overlooking the beach fringed with tropical trees. The sky was an empty black; the sea dark and unsettled. Crests of foam and spray broke against the treeline, concealing the perfect white sand from view. The scene felt louder than Scott's ears led him to believe, as though amplified from a great distance, giving the island a strange, detached aura. They watched as a large wave crashed down, throwing up a plume of water. Scott thought for a brief moment that he could see blood mixed in with the salt and sand.

Kim was already moving, sprinting through the shallows towards the door that still stood where they had first passed through, water now lapping around its frame. Ramona swore under her breath and gave chase, dragging Scott behind her towards the doorway. The waves struck their ankles, dousing them in an icy cold far different from the warmth Kim could recall from the same sea. Kim reached the door before the others, seizing the handle and shaking it frantically. The door remained steadfastly shut. She swore in frustration, wrestling with the door, as Ramona reached her. In an instant she plucked a small card from her pocket, shoving Kim aside with uncharacteristic roughness.

'Fast-trac pass.' she explained brusquely, sliding the card into the doorframe and giving it a firm downwards swipe. There was a click and the three of them tumbled through the door, into the plain of frozen snow.

Daniel had been disarmed, battered, forced to the ground; his body wore the cuts of a long and arduous battle. David Dallas stood over him, gaping in surprise at the open door and the three bodies that came charging through it. The tip of his sword rested inches from Daniel's throat, held quivering in place by its victim's hand clasped over the blade. Blood trickled from Daniel's closed fingers.

'Daniel!' Kim yelled. Dallas's eyes widened in further shock and Daniel took his chance, bracing himself against the ground and launching a devastating uppercut. His opponent fell sprawling backwards onto the snow, cursing. Daniel got slowly to his feet, examining his hand. There was a thin, straight cut across the palm, sliced deep into the flesh.

'You came back...' he mumbled, turning to the others. '...why?'

'We weren't going to let you do this alone.' Scott replied firmly, the Power Of Understanding appearing in his hand with a glimmer of light. Kim remained silent.

'This isn't just your battle, Daniel.' Ramona added, watching as Dallas got to his feet. 'You're not the only one who deserves some revenge.'

'Revenge...' Daniel said softly. 'You're right.' He turned to Dallas, staring at him coldly. 'You've hurt so many people, manipulated and controlled and destroyed. And we... we will avenge them.' A cluster of white pixels formed around his bloodied hands, the tiny squares shifting to a deep red and forming into a long, straight rapier blade.

Daniel equipped the Power Of Vengeance!

+100 Power

+100 Speed

+9999 Payback

'Scott!' he cried, glancing back to where his companions stood. 'Help me! Help me fight him!'

'You fools...' Dallas growled, rearing up, blade in hand, gaze full of liquid hate. 'I'll kill you all!'

'We've got your back, Daniel.' Ramona said, stepping forwards to her old friend's side. Kim appeared at his other shoulder, fists raised, face emotionless. Scott advanced alongside them.

'Alright.' he said confidently. 'Let's finish this.' He raised the sword, fingers tight on the handle. 'Oh shit, wait! I forgot!' He hurriedly turned to Ramona, descending to one knee. 'Ramona Victoria Flowers, sorry this is kind of rushed but we're just about to get into a fight to the death her, so here goes: will you marry me?' Ramona gazed at him in mild amazement for a brief second, before smiling.

'Of course I'll marry you, you idiot!' she laughed. Scott was fumbling in the pockets of his jeans.

'Hang on, I have a ring...'

'Uh, Scott? Can the ring wait?' Daniel interrupted, eyes locked on Dallas, who was watching them with a slightly amused drawl on his face.

'What? Oh, right, sorry!' Scott straightened up, gripping his weapon tightly once more. 'Okay. Now, let's really finish this.'

'If you are quite done' Dallas snarled, leaping towards the four friends.

The battle was short but intense. Scott fought with his blade, breaking down Dallas' defence slowly but unstoppably. Ramona danced around the edge of the combat, creating openings for the others with well-placed arrows, while Kim stayed low, ducking under their foe's blade to pick away at his body with punishing punches and kicks. Daniel threw himself forwards with stunning aggression, striking with blade and fist and foot, taking more punishment than any of the others but managing to remain steadfast. Ramona fired again; the arrow caught Dallas in the leg, making him stumble, Kim delivering an elbow to his chest to double him over; Daniel swung the Power Of Vengeance with expert skill to send Dallas' own weapon flying, another swift slash forcing him to evade backwards, leaving him open to Scott. The Power Of Understanding cut the air, edge of the sword slicing through Dallas' body without losing the slightest bit of velocity. He gave a final roar, an exhortation of pure rage, as his form exploded into a waterfall of coins, sending the four combatants staggering backwards in a shower of currency. The money-speckled ground glittered in the light from the distant band of light.

'We did it!' Scott exclaimed in awe, punching the air in celebration before turning to Ramona and hugging her. 'We really did it!'

'Guys.' Kim said quietly as they embraced and kissed, smiles across both their faces.

'We did... wow, it's finally over.' Ramona sighed in relief, hugging Scott back tightly. 'I can barely believe it.'

'I know, right? I thought one of us was going to die back there!' he replied. Kim knelt down in the snow.

'Do I get a proper proposal now?' Ramona inquired with mock concern.

'Guys!' Ramona stopped smiling. The tone of Kim's voice was not celebratory; instead it sounded only of horror. She turned to face her friend.

Daniel lay in the snow where Kim knelt, flat on his back, limbs askew. His tall, powerful body looked small, broken; motionless. It took a moment for Ramona to realise quite how covered he was in bruises and wounds; some still seeping blood, staining the snow with red. The clothes, so flawless mere hours before, were torn and bloodied. She covered her gasp of shock with both hands.

'No...' she whispered, sprinting to his side with Scott in close pursuit. She reached him in a second, kneeling beside Kim. 'No, no, no...' Scott rested a hand on her shoulder.

'I think he might be-'

'Don't say it!' the girls shouted in unison, fixing him with angry glares. Kim turned away and stared at the body. Daniel's eyes were shut; his mouth open but breathless. She reached forwards with a tentative hand, resting her fingers one his chest, tracing a small cut that ran up his ribcage before finding the long scar just below it and running a digit along it. There was no response, no reaction from the man that lay before them, nothing. Ramona had stood: Scott had his arms wrapped tightly around her, turning her away from the body. She had started to cry. Kim gave no indication of having noticed this. No such tears graced her face. She leant down over Daniel's head, brushing his red hair from his face, lowering her lips towards his.

'FUCK!' Daniel's eyes snapped open as he awoke with a jolt, knocking Kim aside as he sat bolt upright, taking in a huge lungful of air. 'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my fucking god!' he yelled frantically, staring around him as though he had just been born. Ramona screamed and extracted herself from Scott's arms, gaping at him in shock.

'Daniel, you're alive!'

'What?! Yes! I am!' he answered with a somewhat dazed expression. 'I am... did I black out? Did we win?'

'Yes.' Kim said weakly, her eyes now moist with tears. She mentally cursed her tear ducts for choosing this moment to give in. 'We won.'

'We won!' Daniel repeated, grinning widely at Scott, who returned the gesture. He turned back to face Kim. 'Wait. Were you about to kiss me?'

'What?' Kim stuttered, suddenly disarmed. She was incredibly aware of the tears glistening on her face. 'Uh, no. Of course not.' There was a moment of brief silence, Scott and Ramona looking on as they held each other's gaze. Kim felt struck by a sudden, powerful urge and lashed out, knuckles making glancing contact with Daniel's cheek. He staggered backwards in surprise and alarm, Kim advancing on him with a stony expression.

'Don't you ever send me away like that again! Ever!' she shouted, raising her fist again.

'I won't.' he replied, matching her livid gaze. He made no attempt to stop her from hitting him again. 'I promise.' As he spoke, Kim threw herself at him, but not in an attack this time; she wrapped her arms tightly around him, pulling him in and holding him so tightly that he fell backwards and they lay together in the snow, limbs intertwined, kissing again and again.

'Aww...' Scott mumbled happily, putting an arm around Ramona's shoulder. 'That's so sweet!'

'Scott-' Kim said between kisses, '-shut up.' Ramona smiled; Daniel chuckled to himself, clicking his fingers and dematerialising himself and Kimberly. Scott and Ramona stood together on the snowy plain for a few moments, contemplating in silence.

'You knew they were going to end up together, didn't you?' Scott broke the silence, sitting down on the snow. He picked up a handful of coins and examined them.

'I had my suspicions...'

'Oh, admit it. You totally knew!'

'I wasn't certain!'

'But you wanted it to be true?'

'Well... yeah?'

'Good.' Scott grinned broadly. 'I was starting to get worried Kim was never going to find anyone!'

'Yeah, I know what you mean. And I think he really cares about her.' Ramona said, nodding.

'He does. Trust me, I know.' Scott confirmed.

'And how would you know that?'

'Because I can see he looks at her the same way I look at you.'

'Scott Pilgrim,' Ramona said, turning to her husband-to-be with a gentle smile, 'that might actually be the most beautiful thing you've ever said.'

'Really? What about that time I-'

'Shhh, sweetie. Don't ruin the moment.' Ramona giggled, placing a finger to his lips. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny black box that contained the engagement ring, placing it delicately it on her finger. They sat in the snow for a little while longer, not a word spoken but every emotion laid clear. 'Come on.' she said finally, taking Scott by the hand and standing up. 'Let's go home.'

...and epic entertainment was had by all. Possibly. I hope. Please leave a review telling me what you thought of this chapter, the story in general, my writing style or my haircut. Okay, perhaps not my haircut. I get enough teasing from my friends about that.

ONWARDS! I'll be writing an epilogue chapter for this tale to wrap up the fates of our characters, and bring a final conclusion to the story. After that, well... we could go anywhere. Either PM me or post a review if you have any ideas for new work I could produce.

It's been a pleasure, folks. All my love to you, readers!

Pixel Katana - Finally back at the writing board