(My Friends: Kaede's Resolve)

*October 23rd, 1920*

*7:25pm*

*Spirit World*

Darkness, It was all Kaede could make out before the area around her illuminated in a pure white light as she eventually saw the former wielders of the phoenix sword, Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna, and Maxim who appeared before her which caught her by surprise.

"W-what's going on, Where am I?" Kaede asked everyone in confusion as she awaited for her answer as she had taken a seat in the process.

"You are in the area between life and death. You may seem dead to your friends but your body is still clinging on to life as I speak…" Alexandra answered back as she had a look of concern as this answer caught Kaede by surprise.

"But, I thought I was killed by John? His attack should have killed me…" Kaede had spoken back with her tone and voice as a mixture of sadness and confusion as she stared down in sheer disappointment as she was met with a gentle hug from Sakura who proceeded to give her comfort.

"Please don't beat yourself up. You are my descendant and you did an amazing job in defending your friends but you can still win! You must have the ultimate resolve to save your friends from their deaths!" Sakura advised Kaede as this revelation made the young woman's eyes widen in surprise.

"W-Wait?! Y-You are my ancestor?! W-Why didn't you tell me this before?! I-I'm quite shocked!" Kaede asked Sakura as she was met with a smile from Sakura before she began to explain everything to Kaede.

"I had a daughter before I left for my final battle. She was the one who would carry the Fuyou name for the next centuries to come…" Sakura answered back as this brought some relief for Kaede as those events made Maxim smile.

"I've sure missed you, Kaede. You've improved so much from when I last saw you on that train. You must never let that fiery spirit die out. So when you face John. Be sure to kick his ass okay?!" Maxim had advised Kaede as he was met with a smile from her before giving him a thumbs up.

"Thank you. I've missed you too. You've been such a help for me and if it wasn't for you then we would have never gone this far. It was your change of heart that got us to this point." Kaede had spoken back to Maxim as she smiled warmly at him which made the former bolshevik guard smile back at her as those events made Frode smile as well.

"Are you realizing the TRUE power of the phoenix sword? It's not how powerful it is and all that other nonsense! It's the bonds of everyone's hearts, hopes, dreams and you are the first person to truly unlock the true power of the sword!" Frode explained to Kaede as everyone around him nodded their heads in agreement as this prompted Nicholas II to speak.

"He's correct. When you died or rather fell into the bridge between life and death. Frode and the others told me, Maxim, and my wife everything regarding the sword. I've known about it but what Frode just explained was all new to me but I believe that you can draw out it's true potential" Nicholas II had spoken to Kaede as the former tsar smiled back at her as his words prompted Alexandra to speak as well.

"He speaks the truth. It's me and my husband's bond and love for our children that connects to their hearts in which in return, their bond and love for you will connect for you thus creating the tools to conquer your current battles. Kaede, Once you step out into battle once more. You will become a new person and you shall deliver my children into salvation." Alexandra had spoken to Kaede as well and those words made her smile warmly.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me up till now. I would not even be here if it wasn't for everyone so Thank you…" Kaede had thanked everyone as she placed her hands on her chest and thought about all of her previous ordeals such as her first encounter with Anastasia, her meeting OTMA, her encounter with Vitkor and Michail and other such memories.

"Kaede, Are you ready to face off against John Claude? But be warned! If you perish this time then it's a permanent death and you won't be able to come back to life this time around…" Abayami had asked Kaede in a serious tone of voice as he was met with her nodding her head in agreement.

"I'm ready! I won't fail my friends this time! They are counting on me! I refuse to give up now! I will deliver everyone into their bright futures!" Kaede answered back in a tone of motivation as she waited for further instructions.

"I'm glad to hear it. Your final step is to focus your heart on the sword. If you do that then your spirit will return into your body and you shall unlock the TRUE power of the phoenix sword. With everyone's hearts connected as one. You shall emerge victorious in battle…" Sakura had spoken to Kaede with a warm smile on her face as this made Kaede smile warmly back as she proceeded to do what she was told.

"Don't worry guys! I'm coming! Just hang tight!" Kaede thought to herself as she proceeded to focus on her heart in hopes that she could finally return back to the living world to assist her friends who were in trouble.

*Saint Forget*

John Claude's black hole was nearly complete as everyone was completely helpless as they could do nothing but watch in horror as their upcoming deaths seemed inevitable.

"I've won! There's nothing that you can do! Just accept your fates! It's how history should have been! No little Anastasia running around! Just every bastard Romanov died as they should have!" John Claude cried out in joy as he and Natasha let out another hearty laugh as those events were being watched by Olga and the others in horror.

"There has to be something we can do right?! RIGHT?! We can't die like this! Not something like this?!" Tatiana cried out in horror as she looked up to see Olga simply shaking her head in defeat as she shed some tears in the process.

"I'm afraid not but I've had some good memories beforehand. I've met wonderful people like Kazumi, Bartok, Yelena, Dorothy, Darla, Kaede, and so many more. It's strange but It feels like I've accepted my death?" Olga had spoken to Tatiana as she found herself confused by her own words as she knew that her life was short yet with the change in history it appears that she found peace within those she cared for.

"It seems Olga has accepted this as her fate..." Tatiana thought to herself as she saw the black hole getting bigger and bigger before closing her eyes to accept her fate as this was music to Natasha's ears.

"It seems everyone has accepted death eh? Now that's the spirit! My darling! Throw that black hole!' Natasha cried out in joy as she saw John Claude smiling back at her.

"PREPARE TO DIE!" John Claude roared in fury as he threw the black hole towards everyone HOWEVER!

"PHOENIX STARDUST BREAKER!" Kaede roared with sheer fury as she blitzed towards the black hole and destroyed it with such ease as this revelation shocked everyone.

"K-KAEDE!" Anatasia cried out in pure joy as she shed tears of relief as she stared at her friend with happiness.

"I'm so glad!" Alexei cried out in joy as he did a little dance in the process.

"K-Kaede, I had a feeling that you weren't gonna go down that easily…" Akito thought to himself with a smile on his face as he began to chuckle in sheer relief at the events that he was seen transpiring.

"I'm so glad! Hope still hasn't died out! We can still win this!" Kazumi had spoken to Akito with sheer joy as he was met with a nod of agreement from him as this brought new hope and motivation in his heart.

"So, you're alive after all eh? You just can't give up can't you?" John Claude uttered as he tried to hide his visibly shocked nature as he stared down at Kaede.

"Like I said! I ain't giving up! I will save my friends!' Kaede cried out in sheer motivation as she had a smile on her face as she had a fiery burning passion to defeat her opponent once and for all.