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The time had finally come. Through all the madness, the Chaos, the sudden revelation of Scott being Vespa and their hurried flight... they were finally free to begin the purification. Pasiphae squeezed Vespa's hand supportingly as he spoke about taking responsibility, a reminder that he would not be undergoing the process alone. She would be there. If Iris wanted to chew them out, she would endure it. She was, after all, partially to blame.

It touched her deeply to hear her boyfriend's motivations. He wasn't doing it for her, and that made the entire situation less heavy to her. If he had been switching sides just for her, because it was what he thought she wanted, then Pasiphae was not sure how she would have handled the situation. It was not about her. It never had been. It was about Vespa, about Scott, about overcoming his own demons and rising to stand above them. She could not be prouder of him for his decision, for his desire to remember his time in the Negaverse and to help others like himself. If she had done anything to help him reach this part of his life, then she felt blessed.

With a final squeeze of Vespa's hand, she moved to stand beside the other members of Iris's team, a girl in purple and white, and a gentlemen in brown and gold. If there was more that she could do, then she would take whatever direction was given her.

He didn't blame Iris, or anyone, for their anger, and nor would he defend himself against such actions right now. If Iris wanted to punch him in the face, either now or after the purification, he would gladly accept it. It was something he was going to have to carry with him into the next phase of his life. And he'd gladly do so, so long as he made it to that next phase.

He squeezed Pasiphae's hand, looking up and her and offering her a small smile, thankful for her company. He wondered if he could have done this alone... he worried for Kallichore and hoped she was safe and away from this chaos, but he was grateful not to have been alone. His mind was racing with a million thoughts and his heart was beating rapidly in an attempt to keep up, and he didn't even want to think about the butterflies in his stomach.

Iris was already doing him a huge favor... what was one punch to the face in return for that? He gave her a nod, uncertain if she was joking but not letting that effect his decision in the least. Irene had offered him some advice to go along with her smile, and he was surprised that he hadn't shirked at the mention of there being pain. "I'll take it. I'll just think of it as... punishment, for being stupid and falling for their lies in the first place. Thank you..."

While Parthenope hadn't said anything to him, the fact that he was quick to take a guard position helped put his mind at ease. At least no one else would be hurt... too many had been hurt needlessly this night. At ********* request, he reluctantly released his hold on Pasiphae's hand, but not before giving it a squeeze. "I... I love you. In case something goes wrong, or I forget... but you know, so you'll remind me. See you on the other side..."

He hoped. Then he pulled her hand away, and looked straight ahead at Iris. Nothing could hold him back now. Not his family, not Penelope... not even Scott Erlea himself.

"I'm ready."

Iris was not the sort who was sold by romantic mush. She watched the displays in an almost indifferent manner, seeming to hold back any commentary on the subject. Her eyes seemed to flicker for a moment like embers kicked up in a fire.

She heaved in a sigh, closing her eyes in an effort to clear her mind.

She could summon her strength as a princess, even with anger lingering within her, but it would be best for everyone if she evened herself out.

One more breath in and out, and as she opened her eyes, her outfit transformed suddenly. The tall blonde's fuku seemed to almost burn of a white light as it grew out, shooting to the floor simultaneously as her hair did the same. Her tiara faded, revealing a symbol of a star and an arch upon her forehead. When her outfit seemed to cool, it was a floor length gown of warm yellow. It was only then that two wings suddenly shot out of her shoulders, tearing a stifled grunt from the princess.

Eyes were probably upon her, but she did not pay anybody any mind. Her golden eyes were fixed upon the corrupted senshi. Wordlessly she stepped forward, holding her hands together as she moved. It was only once there was about 3 feet distance between her and the Wasp that she parted her hands to reveal her crystal.

Had it been there the whole time?

It was simple looking, quite unimpressive for a gem of any sort. However, the crystal floated up from her hands, and as she closed her eyes, it began to glow. The crystal pulsed through the spectrum of the rainbow, one color at a time. Upon a final pulse of pure white, the gem seemed to splinter into a more impressive display.



With the sudden splintering, the area was bathed in an intense white light.

While she had seen Princess Iris before, she had never before seen the way her Eternal fuku transformed into the long gown that now bedecked her. As Vespa and Iris moved closer to each other, Pasiphae held her breath and hoped. Hoped that the process would be quick. That it would be mostly painless. That no one would interrupt this important moment.

To say that the light that was beautiful would be a paltry description. Pasiphae had seen many beautiful sights as a Senshi, perhaps as many as she had seen terrible ones. She had seen the fine pink dust of her moon. She had seen the lavish setting in the Surrounding. She had seen magic that previously had only . She had seen people standing up for the truth, for what was right, for what one another. All of these were beautiful, and most paled in comparison to what was before her now. Yet, the light of Iris's crystal... what other word could she use, besides beautiful? It glimmered in every rainbow shade before unifying into white, blindingly glorious and warm in the same manner that Pasiphae's own starseed felt.

For a time, she could not look at Vespa or Iris. Her gaze averted from that light, even as the Corrupted Senshi reached out bravely to accept it. When next she could, she looked. Her heart leapt as his aura blazed in her senses. No more nausea. No more sickening pit in her heart as she looked at holes in his head or his chest. How simple, and yet how important, was the symbolism of the white cloth that now covered his chest rather than the black.

She did not know what to say. So, she said what was immediately on her mind, for once not caring at all how the words sounded as they came tumbling out, "Thank you... oh Iris, thank you." She reached out for Vespa's hand, a reflexive action by this point, as tears stung at her eyes. How blessed she was, to have been here for this moment, to see that what she had always encouraged Corrupted Senshi to do was this beautiful, this... peaceful. Her efforts to save her brethern would have to be doubled from this point onward.

But for now? There was a battle. There were people still in danger. Pasiphae had sworn, and intended to keep her vow, to do what she could to protect the innocent. That meant it was time to go back into the chaos they had left.

Only once she was within the assumed safety of the blanket, the blonde went completely limp against his body. She couldn't hold herself up any more, and any sense of power she once had completely vanished.

For all practical purposes, whoever Iris was, she was now a normal girl at the moment.

After the girl had slumped against her teammate, the manx cat easily reminded him after Irene had used her magic "Alright. Time to go!"

With a vague wave of her paw in his direction, ********* dismissed him.

Nothing had changed, yet everything had changed. The outside world around him had remained the same, even once the brilliant light had faded, but he was different. He looked at his gloves and almost wanted to cry-- black, still black! But there was more color, the more his gaze moved from his hands to up to his arms, blue and green fabric, to match the white on his chest... the fact that he could see colors, TRUE colors without the bug-eyed visor filtering everything made everything all the better. Was this what being purged of Metallia's darkness was?

He knew that, physically, he was different. His head felt light, as there were no longer long, golden locks to weigh him down or threaten to trip him. His bat wings were replaced by fluffy wings, soft and white, enough to want to snuggle his face in them if he could even reach that far. He wanted more time to observe the changes over his form, though he was not completely blind to what was happening around him. Pasiphae was at his side still, ever loyal and emotionally overwhelmed. She seemed so happy... though he wasn't quite sure why? Perhaps she simply wanted to believe that there was hope and it healed her as well as himself to see the deed done?

Before he could ask what it was that invested her into helping him so much, he watched as a sheet was thrown over the one that had saved him, and before he could say anything, such as thank her or offer his cheek to punch, Parthenope and ********* flung the blanket over her, and her overwhelming aura disappeared, letting him know just what cost her selfless act had cost her. He wanted to apologize and help, but Irene had acted too quickly for him to react properly. Had this been planned? How many others had been saved before him to warrant this kind of well practiced procedure? It was a happy kind of curiosity, though, and Irene was kind to leave them a way out. "Th-thank you... all of you! Let Iris know that I'm okay with her punching me still!"

Even though he wasn't sure exactly why, outside of causing the fight at the park. That would have been enough, to be fair, and he looked towards the park, knowing that others would have felt the change... was the fight still going on? How much longer would the fight go on? How many more others would be hurt, while he and Pasiphae escaped? He could have easily escaped using Irene's magic, and yet... he felt as though he shouldn't have left. That'd be cowardly to at least not try to end the fighting that he had caused. Perhaps if Mica saw him switch sides, she would lose her will to fight and call off the attack?

He looked to Pasiphae, the one that stuck by him, the one that was holding his hand as though he were special to her... "I'm sorry... but I have to go back. I started this fight, I should find a way to end it. Peacefully, if possible. I can't have anyone else hurt because of me..."

He pulled away from her, and moved away from the safety of Irene's magic. Closer and closer to the battle, as foolish as that was of him. "You can go, if you want. Thanks for helping, Pasiphae. I'll thank you properly someday... eventually."