Third Person
There was an uncomfortable sense around each of them as they walked down the tunnel, following the bright, blue light. They didn't need to discuss it to know what it was.

Pikalus was doing his best to ignore it before there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned to meet the eyes of the other general.

CannibalCrab shifted in footing but remained firm otherwise. He clutched the Atlantean Pistol tightly in his other hand. "Hey so uh, I didn't think to ask this before but don't say anything about my nightmare to anyone else. Anyone. I'll pay you to keep quiet if-!"

Professor turned his head to face in front of him, cutting him off. "It's fine. I won't." He kept his words sharp and tried- and failed- not to grit his teeth.

The general blinked in surprise. "Wait, really? No fight? Not like I'm ungrateful but-!"

"I said it's fine." Pikalus repeated, louder this time. He didn't meet his eyes but he could feel his perplexed gaze on him. Cannibal eventually backed off, moving closer KrakenKid. Their conversation was kept in hushed tones so Pikalus couldn't hear a thing.

Now that he thought about it, most of them were doing the same. Blooper and Selena were practically joint at the hip since they woke up, talking endlessly in whispers in the back of the group. Sam and Tanith were right behind Cannibal and Pikalus himself, and were seemingly in a conversation about what they saw, as well as reassuring each other. Pikalus could pick up a few words or phrases here or there, but otherwise was lost to the details of it.

Cody was the only one who didn't seem to say much. His eyes were focused but he walked much slower than usual. Careful. Whispered a voice in the scientist's head. Scared. Said another. He wasn't sure which was right. The possibility of both being right was plausible as well.

It took him a moment but Pikalus made his way to his side. KrakenKid noticed and moved back, taking his place next to CannibalCrab and continued his conversation.

Brown eyes darted to the side before he spoke. "You doing okay?"

"Just peachy." Pikalus responded. He wasn't a fan of that question. Yes, I'm alive, so clearly I'm fine! Deep down, another part of him understood, the same part of him that made him stare down Cody a moment later. "Are you?"

Cody hesitated for a second. Most would've missed it, but Niall knew the king before most did. He knew how he acted- both versions of him- and that, was not a good sign. "Why does everyone keep asking that?"

"Because you're you." Pikalus scoffed, rolling his eyes at him. "King Cody Maverick, the man with a big heart, and his true greatest enemy is himself. Not because he can make the wrong choice for himself, but because he won't stop beating himself up for it after he does."

Cody opens his mouth- Pikalus knows he wants to say something, protest most likely- but he doesn't stop talking. He doesn't give him an opportunity, fully knowing he's not going to.

"And of course, no choice you make seems to be good enough either. You be selfless, you might get hurt, but if you're selfish- or try to do something for you for once- you worry you won't do enough for others. And endless cycle you put yourself in and you won't dig yourself out of because of some stupid bullcrap 'Kingly Duties' you put yourself it-!"

"Pikalus!"

He didn't stop, nor was he paying attention much. "For once in your life, do us all a favor and let go of whatever 'Sins' you have carrying around because you don't need them holding you back anymoRE-!"

Pikalus squeaked when Cody put a hand over his mouth, then nodded ahead. The tunnel was coming up to a clearing, and the flashes were now a more consistent light, and much brighter than before. The rest of the conversations had stopped, and all was quiet besides what sounded like sparks, and low grunts.

Cody removed his hand and started to creep forward, peeking out of the tunnel into a larger cave. He stopped dead in his tracks, causing the rest of them to follow.

The cave was rather big and tall, with two other tunnels as exits further down but they were all more drawn to the roof of the cave, where Ace hovered over something that stopped their hearts.

A second later, his head suddenly jerked in their direction, as if he knew they were there before he even looked. His arms stopped giving power to his 'Project' and instead, went limp at his sides. His eyes narrowed on them.

Unknowing to them, they had been warned about by the two being they couldn't see that aided Ace. The pair soon joined his side, even if the others couldn't see it.

"Is that..." Selena tried to say it but the words fell flat. They all knew what it was.

The biggest 'Pulse' any of them had ever seen.

Cody stepped out into the cave first, eyes wide. "That big a Pulse... Do realize the damage that'll do? The earthquake that'll cause alone will kill thousands! I don't even know what'll survive that!"

"We do..." Diamond murmured upon deaf ears. His eyes trailed up to the Pulse. "The lower levels of the city will be safe. Unfortunately, though it might cut off the roof, most of the lab will be fine if they can survive that. But, on the upside, so will the poorer parts of Atlantis. Perhaps the Tide Changers and a few farms as well, but you don't care about them, do you?" Diamond sighed to himself. "Sentimental for him as always, hm, Ace?"

Ace didn't answer his splinter and instead kept his eyes trained on Cody. "That's the point. Don't you understand that?"

Cody's face fell as the rest of them joined him, standing behind him and starting to ready their weapons. "What? Why? What's the point of that? What do you earn?"

"I'll get to live, and this voice in my head will finally stop screaming at me." Ace's voice was icy cold. He knew exactly what he was doing, it had been in his head for so long.

"Wait, voice?" KrakenKid spoke up this time, eyebrows arching.

Ace nodded slowly. "It's been in me ever since he had it."

"Who had it?" Pikalus narrowed his eyes.

Ace didn't say anything, eyes just shifting back to Cody. All at once, all eyes were on him and Cody swore the room got colder. "...What?" Cody struggled for the word.

Ace's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Did you not know? I was split off from the Nexus because of your influence when you were distressed-!"

"I know that part!" Cody cut him off, taking a step forward, then stopping when Ace tensed. "But a voice inside your head telling you to do all of this? I don't want that! I have never wanted that!"

Ace's expression changed in an instant. It twisted into anger- directed at him- and his whole body buzzed with power. "NO!" His voice cracked like thunder, shaking the room. "Stop lying!"

"I'm not-!" Cody didn't get to finish.

"You don't understand!" Ace's head shook, then started clawing at the sides of his head like an animal. "This voice has been in my head for ages! I know exactly what it wants! You can lie to your allies, your friends- you can even lie to yourself! But you are NOT going to lie to ME!"

His eyes began to glow intensely, shocking everyone to their core, and especially paralyzing Cody, who was right in his line of sight. "I have memories that aren't mine- Anger that I could never understand! Always screaming- always crying- always, always, ALWAYS! They scream for him!"

Cody sucked in a breath after realizing he wasn't breathing until someone grabbed his hand. He didn't know who it was but he didn't care. They squeezed his hand, and he returned it.

Ace's breaths were irregular but he kept talking. "They scream because he was taken away much too soon. Because he's gone now and there's nothing they can do. And because of these deep dark thoughts that blamed this place. Because if neither of you came to Atlantis, he'd still be alive and for a brief moment, you wished Atlantis to be destroyed because of that. Such a small thought, but it's in my head now, and I'm supposed to be following orders." Ace rolled his shoulders and narrowed his eyes. "So either get out of the way, or get ready to fight."

Cody nodded his head, glancing back at the others and finally learning that Sam was holding. She let go, then gave a curt nod. The others returned it, holding their weapons. Cody turned back, releasing a sigh.

"You already know our choice, don't you?" Ace didn't answer. Cody flipped his Spear in his hand. "Yeah, thought so." In a singular motion, he raised it and shot electricity. Ace dodged it. Then hell broke loose all at once.

Atlantean Weapons began to fire all at once. Pikalus tore up the ground and flung it wildly, though he had to slow it down after he nearly hit a teleporting Sam. Both Sam and Blooper got in close, Sam because she could bounce around with flowers sprouting and moving her body from one place to another in a blink of an eye, meaning she kept Ace on his toes, and Blooper because there wasn't much metal to control in that area, so his Atlantean Dagger now just became a trusty ol' dagger.

CannibalCrab tried to get a clear hit on Ace to freeze one of his feet but his weapon kept fluctuating in power. When he actually hit Ace, it turned out to be a mere frost-ball while when he accidentally missed and hit Cody, he stuck one of his feet to the ground and now frantically fought to dig him out.

Selena gave up on using her powers after running right into Ace and getting shocked instead of hitting him and now just looked for possible openings. KrakenKid shot bursts of fire, managing to hit Ace a few times and trying to go for the Pulse, but was prevented every time.

Sam grunted with frustration after another planned sneak attack with Selena failed as Ace got out of the way before she could strike. Each and every one of them were starting to see little things now, noticing that even when his back was turned, Ace seemed to know when an attack was coming.

"It's like he's got eyes on the back of his head." Cody mumbled to himself, getting a nod in agreement from Cannibal just as he was freed. "Doesn't mean it's impossible to win though! Keep pushing everyone you got this!"

Ace on the other hand, was scrambling as the voices directed him at every turn.

Pikalus' Earthball coming for you, juke left!

Blooper is getting too close, push him back!

Sam's going to flank your right, be on guard!

Direct hit on Pikalus! Tanith is healing him though, he's starting to get back up again!

Attack the medic!

No, focus on the others!

The two different voices were hard to keep up with but Ace was managing. Sam got too close and now had to retreat to be healed by Tanith, meaning he only had to deal with Blooper for close combat, though KrakenKid was clearly eyeing him.

Ace was finding it difficult to fight as the only target. If only there was a way to- wait... What if I-!

MOVE!

The two voices shrieked in his head but he was too little, too late as ice stuck his left foot to the ground. Blooper grinned and pushed forward. In a panic, Ace started to create a dangerous buzz of Nexus energy around him, then started to gather it in his hands. It surged forward as the idea formed further. It would be temporary, sure, but it would be enough.

The others circled him, now cautious of what he was planning on doing with the sudden burst of power and keeping their distance. "Tanith? Any idea what he's gonna do with that?" Cody called over.

Finishing up with Sam, the golden rays disappeared from her staff and the hybrid looked up. Tanith frowned. "It looks familiar in theory but I'm not sure I've seen it in practice before..." Then her eyes widened as the power started to pool in his hands. "Oh... OH! CODY! KK! ANYONE! STOP HIM! HE'S MANIFESTING!"

KrakenKid raised his Gauntlet, charging up fire. "He's doing what now?"

She didn't get to respond as Ace suddenly slammed his hands into the ground, and a bright light blinded them all, making them look away and groan. Sam and Pikalus- both who were familiar with flash grenades- squinted through the light just as it started to fade and gasped.

"More?" Sam questioned out loud, then noticed Tanith nodding her head. "Wait... You said manifesting, but manifesting what?"

"Depends on the person," Tanith responded, still covering her eyes. "But usually, it's some part of yourself. In most cases, it's their conscious, others, an alter ego. Something along those lines."

When it finally faded, Ace was no longer alone. Two figures stood besides him, both with the same eyes, but different shades of blue hair. One with hair that defied gravity in a simple jacket, was instantly energized, testing out their new body and sparking with energy. The other, more combed down hair and in a suit, looked more confused than anything, looking to Ace before starting to try and get his foot free.

Ace spoke in a low voice so no one else but those two could hear him. "Those bodies might feel solid, but they're temporary. They won't endure the same as mine or the others will, so you have to be careful. Take too many hits and you'll literally shatter and go back to only being able to influence me. You have the energy to fight like I can, but don't overexert yourself, there's a possibility that'll destabilize your body too. Understand?"

Diamond nodded but Clubs gave a rather loud "YEP!" That startled both of them. Sheepishly, he apologized before saying it again in a whisper.

"You GOTTA be kidding me!" CannibalCrab groaned rather loudly. "I JUST got him and now there's three of them? Some video game final boss bullcrap right there!"

"Is it bad that you saying that makes me just a little bit excited?" Blooper snorted, making Selena roll her eyes.

Cody studied the two, finding himself oddly familiarized with the one in the jacket, who now stares at him too. "Are you... I've never seen you before but- have we met somehow?"

"Oh yeah!" He grinned. "Remember? I'm Clubs, your worst nightmare!"

Blood drained out of Cody's face. "Oh. You."

KrakenKid's eyes flickered to the other. "Does this make you Diamond?" He nodded sharply. "Figures. I guess you'll have another shot to kill me now, but then again," The Gauntlet blazed with a fierce fire. "I'll finally have the same opportunity."

Ace finally broke out of the ice keeping him in one place with a powerful shock and now studied the room. He murmured something to the other two that they couldn't hear.

Cody decided to speak up too. "If anyone has any unfinished business, there's a possibility that we could get really hurt here, so it might be best to get that out of the way now. Just... Just do it. While we still can."

There was a long pause before, "I got something."

Eyes turned to Tanith, Who fiddled with her staff under the pressure. "I mean, might as well do it now just in case something goes wrong, huh? Already survived my worst nightmare on repeat, nothing should hold me back now." Clearing her throat, her voice turned into a yell. "KK! I REALLY WANT TO KISS YOU RIGHT NOW!"

KrakenKid's face dusted pink as he blinked in surprise. "Wha- really?"

Tanith nodded. "I've wanted to for a long time. Because you really make me feel good inside whenever you're around! I used to be in love but it was never like this- you actually made me completely forget about everyone else I ever wanted to kiss and I- I just want to feel that way all the time!" She smiled, and her heart leapt when he did the same back.

Tanith moves first, running from one end to the other as the others watched, then KrakenKid met her a quarter of the way there. She grabbed his waist and planted a kiss right on his lips, one he returned. He started to wrap his arms around her before she suddenly dipped him, getting a noise in surprise but didn't protest.

Moments later, they parted and instantly, the cave started to buzz with chatter. Sam was the first, laughing and giving a sly thumbs up. Cody was speechless, eyebrows raised while Pikalus just rolled his eyes and mumbled 'Frickin' finally'. CannibalCrab gave a wink to KrakenKid. Selena and Blooper both made a face but exchanged money behind their backs.

Clubs nudged Diamond. "Hey, we should try that sometime!"

"Wha- not now!"

KrakenKid eventually let go of Tanith, and his face soon began to heat up. "I just... I just kissed you in front of everyone." His purple skin was looking more red than anything for a moment. "Blooper just saw that. I didn't think the penguin would even be here- this is not what I imagined."

Tanith grinned at him, putting her arm around his shoulder. "You've imagined it before?"

CannibalCrab laughed but was drowned out by loud shushing. KrakenKid waved his arms to grab everyone's attention. "Okay okay, uh, T, we'll further discuss this later, is anyone else going to do something or am I just going to talk endlessly and no one is going to stop me, okay, yep, option two-!"

Tanith nudged him and KrakenKid stopped. Eyes moved around before Ace mumbled "Is this normal?" To Diamond and Clubs, getting two unsure shrugs. "...Let's continue then. You know what to do."

All three broke off in different directions, engaging in another fight. Cody and KrakenKid moved for the Pulse but Ace was there in an instant to push them back, protecting it like a mother bird and her eggs.

Professor and Cannibal tried to join them but Clubs blocked their way, grinning brightly. "Hello, hello! I don't think I've formally met you two! These things are such a drag, right? Maybe I should skip introductions and go straight for the part where I ATTACK!"

Clubs lunged for Cannibal but missed, though immediately threw a bolt at him that hit head on. Pikalus growled and swung his hammer at him, though Clubs ducked, grabbing and twisting his arm. Pikalus gritted his teeth but refused to let go of the hammer.

"I've seen your moves before, Pikalus! They're in Ace's mind and therefore, in mine too! Though I must say, that hammer looks different from your other one." It took the scientist a moment to realize what he was talking about. Clubs' eyes turned into a glare. "It's a privilege to be able to forget, P! One I unfortunately, don't have. We all remember it so well- we were covered in blood you know."

Clubs twisted his arm further than sent a close ranged blast right at his chest. Pikalus screamed finally and dropped his weapon, letting it clatter to the ground. "I'm thrilled to have the chance to return the favor!"

Clubs didn't get to advance on him as Cannibal shot him in the shoulder with an icepick. Clubs groaned, retreating and focusing on Cannibal.

Pikalus tried to stand but a hand pushed him down. "Hold on, let me do this at least." Golden strands of magic flowed over him, easing his pain.

Pikalus waiting until she was done before trying to stand again. "Thanks." He grunted, nodding in Tanith's direction. "You're not using too much, are you?"

Tanith shook her head. "Healing is my core magic, it comes easy to me. I've been sticking to that rather than shields or anything else for now, we don't exactly have anyone else who can do the same."

"Good." He sent a grin. "Rasmus made the right choice hiring you all those months ago." Tanith returned the look before backing off as he went to aid the crab.

Meanwhile, Diamond has approached Sam, Selena and Blooper and now spun circles around them. Sam could already see that he was planning every move ahead of himself and started to see if she could detect a pattern. Blooper decided to give him no room to rest and kept slashing at him, and with Selena going on for any openings she could.

Diamond stayed silent while he fought, focusing on landing hits- no matter how small- whenever he can. For a moment, Diamond nearly sighs in relief as Selena is shot down when he puts more power into his hit. But it doesn't last long as a revenge shot hits him square in the back from Sam and he cries out, his form flickering but as he backs up, still stays together.

Clubs yelps when he hears him in danger. "D! Leave him alone!" He tries to move towards him but earns a hit from Pikalus and crashes right into Diamond instead.

Though they end up on the ground, moments later they both get up and press backs together. Outside of the two leaders, the surround them, each aiming their weapon carefully.

It dawns on Ace that he's running out of time, and a voice yells in his head.

Letting the Pulse detonate on its own will take too long! The bigger ones always do, they'll destroy it before you even get the chance to do anything! Force it to explode! Now!

But for the first time, there was another voice to fight it. One inside in head.

No! That'll be more unstable! That could kill him, we can't!

DO IT! NOW!

Ace reached his arm towards the Pulse, just wanting the yelling to stop. Cody's blood runs cold and his whole face drops while KrakenKid screams at him to stop.

NO!

Ace never even gets to summon energy as a sudden force hits him and he spins out of control. Sparks begin to literally fly off of him as his head feels like it's being cut into two. A field of danger circles him and the Pulse, preventing anyone from getting close without getting hurt, making the pair of leaders back up hopelessly.

All eyes shoot up and Clubs audibly gasps loud enough for anyone to hear. "He's splitting! Oh Nexus- D, HE'S SPLITTING! THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR SPLITTING!"

Diamond shakes his head in disbelief. "We really do have the worst luck, don't we?"

Tanith is first to ask. "Splitting into what? Who's splitting from him?"

Diamond and Clubs both look her in the eyes with an indescribable look and whisper at the same time.

"Hearts."

Pikalus grits his teeth. "I don't care what's happening but with that kind of energy, he could still set it off! Do something!"

Cody reaches in but is pushed out in a second off of reflex, his hand burning with pain. "We can't reach him! Not physically!"

Tanith pauses for a long moment before taking a deep breath and holding on tightly to her staff. "I can do this..." She whispers to herself, sucking in a long breath, then releasing a wave of blue energy.

It passes through everyone in the room, and there's a calm. As soon as Ace feels it, it's silent. No screaming in his head or energy unwillingly leaving him. For the first time in his life, he can think clearly and on his own, no darkness or splinters in his head, just him. He closes his eyes, wishing he can stay like that forever, but when they open again, there's another figure in front of him.

Messy, light blue hair, eyes like his own, and unlike every other form of him, this one wears a sweater. He's certain this one doesn't have a solid form- not even a temporary one- but he continues to stare into his eyes, blinking in confusion. He seems to do the same.

And then suddenly, the peace is gone as he sees KrakenKid launch his body right for the Pulse and his Gauntlet tears it into shreds with fire.

The energy widely dispersed as the burst sends everyone back at least a few feet and Ace has a dawning realization that it's all gone and runs. He heads straight for the tunnels, hearing Diamond and Clubs follow his lead and out of the corner of his eye, he can see that same figure before, following them.

The others all laugh with relief as the bomb that was looming over all of them is destroyed and they now just have to deal with Ace. Cody gives KrakenKid a small 'Good work' nod that boosts his ego, until he looks around and it all suddenly breaks.

"T?" His voice is low but it cuts through the laughter and leaves them all to turn to the medic.

Tanith is breathing heavy, her magic sparking but now, turning a different color: Purple. A deep purple that doesn't suit her at all, along with a low growling noise.

"Uh oh, that's not good!" Blooper backs up quickly, arms in the air. "Anyone know what this is?"

"Her calming spell." Pikalus mumbles. "It has a drawback, she takes on the emotions of everyone she calms. Something went wrong."

Pikalus is further proven right when she takes off in the tunnel right besides the one Ace did, not stopping. KrakenKid runs after her, then paused and looks behind him. "I got Tanith! The rest of you go after Ace!"

"You sure?" CannibalCrab asks, clearly itching to go and make sure nothing goes wrong. "No backup? Not even just me?"

KrakenKid shakes his head. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me! Go!" He turns back and bolts after her.

The rest of them nod, eyes trailing over to the opposite tunnel. Cody takes lead with Pikalus and Cannibal right behind him. Blooper attempts to crack his wrists but when it doesn't work, he jogs to keep up. Sam puts her arm around Selena and holds her close, whispering words of encouragement that makes them hug for a moment before running after them.

And there's an unspoken thought between all of them that without the extra firepower, or a medic, that this could go very wrong.

***************
Sometimes even kissing in the middle of battle is important, it's nice to take a small break, isn't it?

And, one down, two to go before we reach the end, and the epilogue! Dang, feels so weird.

As always, notes!:
-Pikalus is very done with everything and everyone

-Yes, Tanith and Sam are 100% gossiping but nobody's gonna stop them

-Blooper is just really ready to fight, y'know? Look at him go

-Most of them still don't have the best control over their weapons as shown so fighting is a little more difficult than usual. Luckily, Ace is trying to save most of his energy for his project so most of his hits are just to knock them out of commission, however Tanith helps ensure they stay in the game, making it harder

-Ace positions the Pulse so when it does go off, the Poor District will be far better off than most of the other parts because he doesn't want to hurt Chester

-Clubs is not happy about Pikalus trying to kill Ace back in Pulse Part Two

-Diamond and Clubs are so very gay for each other if I haven't made that clear. Literally two halves that need each other to feel whole

-I wonder who this new figure is... (even if the boys literally said his name)

-Ace felt true peace for the first time in his life

-Yeah, remember that vision KrakenKid had ages ago? Haha yeah that's happening right now

-They kiss

Andddd I think I got all of them! Two more chapters, lots of information and wowza, this is gonna end pretty soon. I'll have a lot to say later but for now, if You've made it this far, thank you so much! Be sure to comment what you think, this took a while to make while it takes much less time to read, and farewell!

—JustAnAtlantisWriter