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Lilia, Suzie, and Quincy are all exhausted after fighting off the Shadow Clan rebels that had attacked them in plentiful numbers. The wounds sting, but they didn't hurt nearly as much as when they saw TJ again. He had heavy eyebags from how hard he's been working himself to come out on top and he stares at the trio with a blank expression as Zavier oversees the situation. TJ holds a capsule in one hand as he stares daggers into them.
"So... Who's first?" He challenges coldly.
"TJ listen, please, we don't wanna fight you-"
Suzie's pleas gets cut off. "No. This next key is mine, and I'm not gonna let anyone take it from me this time."
Quincy is the next to speak, though he tries to put up his usual icy walls despite how he feels. "TJ, you're being ridiculous."
TJ glances towards Quincy. There is an eerie silence before TJ starts to laugh. It clearly wasn't a good one, going by the look on his face. "I'm being ridiculous?"
He laughs some more before speaking. "Quincy, this is the most level headed I've felt my whole life! And besides, you also want the keys, so what does it matter?"
"You're not the same." Quincy's cold exterior falters slightly.
"Of course I'm not the same. I'm better than ever."
TJ then turns to Lilia. "And you. Why do you always win, huh? What's so special about you?"
He steps towards her. "I'm a universal anomaly, destined to save the world. You on the other hand, well... You're a nobody."
"Stop it... Please..." Lilia murmurs with a shaking voice.
"Stop what? Speaking the truth? All you've ever done is follow me around like a black cloud and cast your shadow over me!"
TJ continues, his temper flaring as he does so. "Every time I get the slightest taste of victory, you're always there to take it away!"
"TJ-"
"I would've been so much better off if you were gone."
His words flowed like poison. They ring in her head like a cruel melody that doesn't stop playing. Suzie is taken aback while Quincy starts a shouting match with TJ, holding back tears as he does so. It was as though the world had stopped as Lilia felt it all crashing down around her. She'd never felt such a thing before today. It wasn't sadness, it wasn't anger, but a horrible combination of all sorts of negative emotions as she stood in place. Suzie looks at Lilia with concern and tries to snap her out of it, but to no avail. Lilia passes Suzie her mask and steps forward at a doodle battle distance from TJ. This would be the first time they had seen her face. No longer was her feelings hidden behind the safety of her mask. No longer would she have mercy on the unfortunate soul in front of her to whom she does not recognize anymore.
She sends out her Valentines Irikil, that of which she named 'Sir Fluffles'. And thus, a battle commences between the cloud and her shadow.