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Tales of the Society - The Azure Age - CH2.4

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Tales of the Society - The Azure Age


Chapter 2.4: The Beginning of The End



Last time on Tales of the Society…</b>

Weiss got around to the rest of the Crimson Exiles in the base, asking about their past issues, learning what made them all tick, and playing on their desires to turn them against N.E.D. and his organization. However, his planned uprising didn’t go as well as he’d hoped; after a strong debate over the best way to destroy the Crimson Society, Weiss and Co. were thrown out of N.E.D.’s bunker.

Now, with limited resources and no place to call home, it’s up to the exiled Exiles to make a base they can call their own. Thanks to N.E.D.’s planning, they already have a location to start at: Iridu City.


“...So this is the place?”

Weiss looked over the empty square of land near the center of town. Although there were signs of construction work by the Neo-Empire, all but the barest remnants of equipment had been removed - evidently, N.E.D. had been expecting his former allies to find the site. “Well, looks we have some work to do. Everyone’s gotta pitch in now… Alright, let’s make a new kickass pad!”

-DAY 6-

It took the better part of the day, but the group was making surprisingly good progress. Even when Amethyst deferred from construction to begin working on the bomb they had plans for in their newly-built workshop, everyone else put their individual skills to use in clever and often creative ways - Weiss used his electricity as a makeshift welding tool, 1:30 was in charge of heavy lifting, and so forth. Unfortunately, one particularly diminutive member of the workforce was having particular issues stomaching her tasks.

“Uuuuugghhh…Weeeeiiiisssss!” Sylvie’s high-pitched whine was audible even over the racket of construction. “I’m boooorreeed! I wanna go back to my lab and work on my proooojeeeect!

“Woman, for the last time, wait!” Weiss shouted back. “Creating our new base of operations is more important than your needless pursuits.”

Needless pursuits?!” Sylvie responded, offended by Weiss’s remark. “This is actually going to come in reeeal handy for all of us!”

Weiss grunted angrily. “My left nut they will. Just focus on getting some walls around us, and you can build your own damn lab.”

“Maybe I will!” Sylvie retorted, sticking out her tongue while she focused on applying the cement for the walls. With the bratty pony fangirl occupied, Weiss looked around to see construction proceeding smoothly elsewhere on the building. Seeing an opportunity to take a breather, he slipped away from the group and headed for the workshop, where he found Amethyst working on her bomb.

“So. How’s the weapon lookin’?” Weiss’s words nearly startled the tools out of Amethyst’s mechanical hands.

“Aaah! ...Oh, Weiss, it’s you. I’m doing good, but for fuck’s sake, don’t just come in like that! I might’ve been working on the super-sensitive firing mechanism for all you knew!” Amethyst just shook her head as she set her tools down and faced her visitor. “What are you doing here?”

Weiss just stretched and leaned against the wall. “I’m taking a quick breather while everyone gets those walls up, so I figured I should take a minute to get to know you too. After all, you’re the only one I didn’t get to chat with before the meeting.” As he spoke, his eyes traced over her body. Despite his shades blocking his eyes from view, Amethyst giggled knowingly.

“Well, we might not have a home yet, but I can tell someone’s already found the best view in town~”

Weiss scoffed to hide his mild embarrassment at being found out so easily, before quickly changing the subject. “Don’t go flatterin’ yourself just yet. I know that attitude got you in trouble with the Society - why else would they ban such a hot piece of ass?”

“So, you already know what got me kicked out...which leaves me short one story for your troubles…” Amethyst tapped her chin in mock thought as she slinked over to an open spot on her work table. “Alright then...how ‘bout I tell you just how I got this bomb’s plans?” She smirked maliciously, eyeing the blueprints she set aside.

“Sure, why not?” Weiss answered, sitting himself down on a nearby bench. “Lay it on me, Amy.”



“That’s enough of your sneaking around.”

Flames licked Irene’s fingers as she stood between the intruder and the only unlocked door in the room. With her back literally against the wall, Amethyst raised her hands in surrender, an angry red welt forming on her left cheek where her assailant had slapped her a moment ago.

“Wait, wait, wait, I didn’t mean any harm!” she yelped. “I just wanted to see if the rumors about the “woman with butterfly wings” were true!” With Irene still advancing on her, she adopted a pose of supplication; her hands behind her back, chest thrust out in something of a showier manner than usual. “Can’t we be friends…...or maybe something more?” she asked shyly.

To Amethyst’s relief, Irene lowered her hand - albeit only to slap herself in the face with a groan. “So this is what it feels like to be on the other side of my flirting. How does Erica put up with it?” She muttered inaudibly before turning back to regard Amethyst. “Would it have killed you to just knock or something? Pretty rude to just sneak in and then ask to be friends. The fact that I didn’t blast your head off means you’re damn luc-”

The sound of an explosion in the next room made Irene’s wings turn white, but only for a moment. They quickly settled on an eerie black, matching the murderous look that came on their owner’s face.

“...If that’s who I think it is, I have two snakes to skin.” she growled. “Tradere, Nevic, your scaly asses are mine!” As she got up from her seat, she glanced back at Amethyst, her eyes narrowed. “Touch anything here at your own risk. I will deal with you in a moment, you stripperiffic sneak.”

Amethyst smiled demurely and waved at Irene as the latter fluttered off, a fiery rocket launcher manifesting in her hands. The moment the door slammed shut, she tittered mischievously and eyed the detonator she had held behind her back.

“Hehehe. Ahh, Irene…” Amethyst giggled. “You oughta learn to keep a sharper eye on me~” As she began looking around the room, her phone went off. She grabs it to find a quick message from her younger brother.

Please don’t do this...u r better than this…

Amethyst stared at the message before shutting off her phone and putting it away with a sigh. “Sorry, little brother…” she whispered to herself, “...but my mind’s made up… If this changes me...so be it.”

With that, Amethyst quickly skirted off into the shadows of the workshop, leaving Irene perusing the area of the blast. She snuck into the research and drafting room, poring over the blueprints lining the walls...until she got to the biggest one she could find, labeled “Cobalt Bomb - EXTREME FUCKING RISK!”

“Jackpot,” she smirked to herself as she pulled the scroll off the wall. With her objective complete, Amethyst slunk out of the house the same way she came in, but not before detonating the second set of charges she’d planted. Another smirk curled her lips as she heard the sound of an exasperated female scream - her second “present” had been planted on Irene’s napalm tanks, setting much of her house alight.

“OH, FOR LOVE’S SAKE! When I find you, Tradere, you’re gonna WISH you and your new best buddy could die permanently!” Irene’s enraged vows and the roar of the now-raging fire drowned out the sound of Amethyst’s amused laughter as she absconded with the plans.



For once in his life, Weiss was speechless. “So...let me get this straight.” he finally uttered. “You broke into the house of a psychopathic pyromaniac, flirted with her, stole plans for her ultimate weapon, set her house on fire, and lived to talk about it?!”

“What, is this suddenly a dick-measuring competition~? Do you need a handicap against the amputee~?” Amethyst couldn’t help but giggle at the look of utter bewilderment and shock on Weiss’s normally-smug and composed face. Even after taking a few moments to collect himself, he still stumbled on his next words.

“Good...fucking...god, that’s hot.

“Just like everything else about me, Weissy~<3” Amethyst’s smile took on a more seductive look as she rested her hands on her knees, squeezing her breasts between her arms as she leaned forward.

Weiss’s face was almost as red as the scar on his forehead by this point. Well, the welding seems to be done for the most part… Maybe...I should extend my break a bit more...
He smirked up at Amethyst as she sauntered forward, pushed him down on her workbench, and-



“Whoa now! Wait a sec!” Brian reached out to stop the story, shaking his head. “That’s way more than I had to hear.”

“y-y-yYesss ind-e-e-eeed. Wouldn’tstttsst want to s-c-ar any young mi-n0sj0sid-ar-”

“Aww hell naw!” Brian said, drawing himself a triple-barrelled shotgun. “We are
not going through this shit again, Bojack!”

“Wa-wai-wait! I’m jussss-zz-z-z-st try-y-ying to-”

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-BLAM-BLAM!

When there was nothing but blood, dust, and metal shards, Brian straightened up and wiped his brow. “Alrighty then! Let’s get back to the story! And for all our sakes, skip that last part.”




“Hey! Amethyst! You in there, ya lazy goat?”

“Let me try, Saturn~! Ahem… Oh, Raaarity! You sleeping on the job, darling?”

“OUTTA THE WAY, GIRLS! LET’S SEE HER IGNORE THIIIIIIISSSSS!!!

“That appears...inadvisable. You may cause structural damage to the workshop.”

“SCREW THAT! GOAT-BITCH HAS TO GET THE FUCK OUT HERE NO-”

Just before Marcell could take out his guitar, the door of the workshop opened, allowing Amethyst to stalk out. Her hair was mussed up, her cheeks were flushed, and her expression was nothing short of murderous.

“...Can you all just SHUT THE HELL UP FOR TEN SECONDS!?” she yelled. Her outburst made everyone fall silent on the spot. “...God, I’m working my ass off on the fucking bomb we gotta use to destroy the Crimson Society, and I can’t even get a decent minute’s rest with your chatter! Unless you knuckleheads wanna be the test subjects for my new toy, LET ME FUCKING SLEEP!!!

With a muted snarl, Amethyst slammed the door shut, leaving the others quite stunned by the openly hostile display. Unnoticed by anyone, Weiss used the commotion to slink out the back window, make himself look semi-presentable (easier than it sounds, due to his lack of hair and a shirt), and sneak back to the group. “So what’d I miss?” he asked nonchalantly.

There you are,” said Purgatory. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you - where have you been?”

“Simple. I’ve been in a magical and mystical realm of pleasure and awesomeness.” responded Weiss. “And let’s just say, Amethyst was the key to getting to that realm. Hee hee hee~ Ba-zing~”

The thinly-veiled innuendo brought mixed reactions from the others; Sylvie looked disgusted, Marcell gave Weiss a thumbs-up, Saturn raised a wasp-formed eyebrow, 1:30 stared blankly, and Quantum slightly tilted his head to one side, but otherwise appeared indifferent. Purgatory, however, looked confused.

“....I’m sorry, what?” she asked. Weiss kept laughing before giving an annoyed sigh.

“Ugh...nevermind. Back to work everyone, we just gotta get these walls up now,” he groaned. Figures she’d be as thick as a board about that stuff, he thought.



The work continued on into the dark twilight, the stars above clouded by the city’s light. After one last pull, the final wall on the new Crimson Exiles’ HQ was up and firmly in place.  Everyone looked at the finished product to find that...it fit well with the surrounding buildings.

“...Huh. A little underwhelming, don’t you think?” Sylvie quipped to the others, with Weiss only looking slightly annoyed with this development.

“Indeed, however, that means chances of retaliation are significantly lower if we blend in rather than stand out,” Quantum noted to his diminutive friend.

“And who’s to say we can’t trick out the inside of our new base?” Weiss added. “But we’ll have time for that later - right now, I think we all deserve a good night’s sleep.” His allies nodded in agreement as they entered their new base to make themselves at home, settling in their respective rooms for the first decent sleep any of them have had in a week.



-DAY 7-

The group awoke early to begin decorating the interior of the base to their liking. As they finished up, Amethyst finally rejoined them, looking rather frazzled but pleased with herself.

“Guys, it’s done! The bomb is ready to go - and better yet, I had a lot of leftover cobalt, so we can start R&D with this here!”

“Interesting,” Quantum said. “If I may, Weiss, would you allow the science-minded members to proceed with this endeavor?” He indicated himself, Amethyst, and Sylvie.

“Sure - if R&D translates to more stuff to own motherfuckers with, go fucking nuts.” Weiss nodded to his friends as they walked back outside. The motion also brought his attention to the window, where he noticed a familiar figure approaching. “Huh. What do you know… He’s coming back.”

A minute later, Weiss opened the door to admit the visitor: N.E.D. himself, without escorts. The four-armed Neo-Human chuckled jovially as he looked around the base. “Ah, brother, it varms mein heart to see your infinite spirit directed productively. Mein soldiers vould not have managed zhis task in vone day.”

“I had help from some good men, but yeah, lot of that’s thanks to me,” Weiss bragged, despite how little he actually did. “Now then, the fuck are you doin’ here? Don’t you have some big-ass scheme to be working on?”

“I said zhat I vould not allow your planning to compromise mein own...I never said zhat I did not vant to see your plans coming into zheir own.” N.E.D. replied. “I vill accompany you on zhis assault and assist if needed, if only to see zhe Society burning. After zhat, you and your friends may proceed on your own vithout mein interventions. Ve shall see whose tactics sound zhe death knell on zhe schweinhunds who banned us.”

Weiss’s cocky smirk widened. “Did I just hear you make a competition outta this?”

“Nein, brother. I only vant to see if zhis tactic of yours vill avail you. If not, it falls to me to clean up your mess. After all, I vant to see zhem burn as much as you, but I vill not compromise meinself just to get a shot at zhem.”

Weiss’s smirk remained undimmed. “Whatever you say, bro...but it’ll still be an hour or so before we’re good to go. How ‘bout I give you a tour of the joint?”

“Zhat vould be most...gentlemanly of you, brother. It’s quite unlike you. Are you proud of zhis simple establishment?” N.E.D. crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke.

“Maybe a little.” Weiss shrugged. “Sure, it ain’t exactly the Kremlin, but you’ll always be a little proud of the things you put your back into. Just look at you and your army.”

“Ah yes...mein Army...Zhat is indeed mein magnum opus...I only vish zhe Society vould have allowed me to bring zhem into zhe Neo-Empire as vell…zhey vould have been...powerful assets.” N.E.D. shook his head as he remembered his last days in the Society.



“For the last time, N.E.D., cut it out!”

Max’s cries went unheeded as N.E.D. threw another gust of gale-force winds his way. He tried to retaliate by slamming the ground with his sword, causing a plume of sand to explode beneath the Neo-Human, but N.E.D. simply leapt forward, using the attack and his own wind powers to supplement his momentum. He flipped around in midair to plant both boots in Max’s chest, forcing the assassin back as the wind was knocked out of him.

“Vhat is zhe matter, herr Max? I zhought you had more zhen zhat.” N.E.D. sneered as he got up and dusted off his coat. “Is zhis zhe best a master assassin can do? Mein gott, you are out of practice...”

“It’s a spar, N.E.D., we’re trying to avoid killing each other here!” Max snapped back. As usual, the supposedly-friendly training match between N.E.D. and himself had escalated rapidly - both were rather battered, but neither gave an inch. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was your intention.”

“Oh please, mein silly bear...I vish only to push your physical limitations, and I expect you to do zhe same.” N.E.D. flexed his fingers as balls of compressed air formed in his hands. “Only zhrough zhe hardest of trials can men become steel!” He started to rush in, only to be forced back when a wall of sand erupted in front of him, rapidly hardening into rock.

“I said that’s enough!” Max shouted the last word as he struck the rock with the blunt side of his blade. “I’m tired of you testing my limits, the only thing you’re testing is my patience!” The wall shattered into dust as the blade went on to smack N.E.D. into the back wall with a crash.

N.E.D. slowly got back to his feet, rubbing his sore back. “Nngh...I see you haven’t lost your fury...but your edge is lacking...” He chuckled as Max sheathed his sword and walked away, panting from exertion.

“No… I’m holding back...I’d rather not shed blood I don’t have to…” The masked assassin looked over his shoulder at N.E.D. “Restraint is the sign of true discipline, Nesmon.”

“Yes, of course, Herr Councilman...” Despite himself, N.E.D. couldn’t quite hide his sarcasm, prompting Max to groan in exasperation.

“Seriously, this again? Ever since Tsuneo left, you’ve been pushing for the seat of power he left behind. Newsflash, N.E.D.; you aren’t getting that spot. No one is. We don’t need another leader to make things more complicated. Let alone a fucking tyrant.

N.E.D. frowned suspiciously behind his mask. “Vhat are you talking about, Max?”

The question brought a grim smile to Max’s face behind his own mask. “You underestimate our perception. We’ve known about your activities outside the Society for a while now. Why else would you call yourself the “deity” of the Neo-Empire?”

“Because I am Neo-Human like mein brother-”

“And, apparently, there’s a whole army of your kind. And you see yourself as their de facto leader. Even Weiss’s insufferable ego won’t extend that far.” The lenses of Max’s mask narrowed as he turned entirely to face N.E.D. “Tell me, Nesmon...were you planning on turning the Society into your newest base if we ever indulged your request to elevate you to Councilman status?

“It vould be for zhe best interests of-”

“That’s just it. It’s not in our best interests as a Society. Especially if you and your army are flying the flag we suspect you to be flying.” Max took out a paper from his pocket, showing an image of a familiar black swastika on a white-and-red background. “We value our independence and diversity here - what makes us different is what makes us stronger. Your army may be more numerous and well-supplied, but it has no soul - just subservient conformity. We want none of that.”

“Herr Max, you surely have to consider-”

“I won’t consider you a member of this fold anymore.” Max sniped coldly. “And neither will the rest of the council. Get out of here, and return to your “superior army”; unlike them, we won’t bend to your ambitions.”

N.E.D. bowed his head as Max finally left the room. “Zhen you leave me no choice, Max,” he muttered. “Zhe next time ve meet...you and your friends vill receive no mercy...”



“Huh. Didn’t think you were the competitive type, Nesmon.” Weiss remarked to his brother as they walked out the front door.

“In var, you fight to vin. All combat should be no different, brother.” N.E.D.’s matter-of-fact response helped Weiss understand his brother’s intentions, bringing a slightly more sincere grin to his lips.

“Alright then, brother. You’re welcome to come with us on our little revenge trip, but remember; when the Society goes up in nuclear flames, it was my plan, my efforts, and my victory.”

“Of course, mein brother. I shall merely observe.” With that affirming nod, Weiss looked over to the rest of the Exiles, already geared up for the attack. The cobalt bomb and a pair of Marcell’s portable amplifiers were loaded on a cart, with a modified ox harness on the front to help 1:30 pull it. Purgatory and Marcell were pushing the cart from the back, and Sylvie was sitting next to the bomb, examining it with interest.

“Alright, the gang’s all here, the bomb’s good to go, and we’ve got our banner!” Weiss paused to glance at Saturn. “...We do have a banner, right? I want those Society shitheads to know exactly who they fucked.” he asked.

“As per your suggestion, we do.” Saturn indicated a rolled-up cloth and a pair of long poles slung over her back, wrapped in plastic to keep her wasps away from it.

“How...self-aggrandizing,” N.E.D. commented.

“Hey, I learned from you, bro,” Weiss said. “Psychological warfare’s just as important as the explosions and murder part - I’m gonna show these fucks that we’re back and better than ever! And on that note…” He put on his most commanding tone as he pointed towards the horizon, where the Society’s base stood.

“This is it, everyone! The rise of the Azure Initiative has BEGUN!”



As the cobalt bomb’s explosion rocked the landscape, pieces of the Crimson Society’s HQ and its cliffside foothold falling into the glowing waters below, Weiss erupted with evil laughter.

“We did it! We fucking did it!!! The Crimson Suck-ciety is no more! They’re gone!!!” Weiss’s cool exterior finally gave way to sadistic glee as his team revelled in the glory of their victory...save for Amethyst.

“Yes, Weiss, that’s all well and good...but, where do we go from here?” she asked “With the Society out of the picture, what’s our next move...Leader?” The last word turned a few heads, but Weiss only grinned knowingly.

“Oh-ho-ho-ho...I’ve already been thinking about that. You see, after the events of the last week, I’ve realized something…” He pointed to the burning remnants of the cliffside where his enemies’ base had stood moments before. “These suckers were proclaimed the strongest of the Nexus, but we just kicked their asses… Know what that means?”

“...We’re the strongest?” Sylvie squeaked out from the crowd.

“Yes, exactly. And do you know what that means?”

“NO ONE CAN STOP US NOW! YEAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

“...Yes, Marcell,” Weiss said as he removed his hands from his ears. “That’s what that means. We can move on from petty revenge and expand our scope to…the entire Nexus!

“I see zhat ambition runs in zhe family after all.” N.E.D.’s voice was half-approving, half wry.

“And perhaps we can finally hunt down that demon in the process,” Purgatory muttered.

Weiss snapped his fingers as he remembered his agreement with the paladin. “Oh, of course… That’s Priority One now… Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first mission: capture the NeverDead! Whoever does...he’s theirs to do with as they damn well please. Make him your next science project, keep him tied up for your amusement, fucking end him, I don’t care. Make this a competition if you want, just catch that freak, and fuck him up.” He paused as he glanced at Saturn. “Or just fuck him, I guess. Just make sure he can’t get in our way anymore.”

The Initiative’s faces lit up at Weiss’s declaration. “I wanna make him pay for his Pony hate!” Sylvie immediately cried.

“I WANT THAT MOTHAFUCKA DEAD FOR TRASHIN’ MY ROOOOOOOCK!!” Marcell screeched, strumming his guitar for emphasis.

“I would like to study the NeverDead’s stress patterns, to find the best way to torment his immortal soul,” Quantum stated, allowing the ghost of a grin to curl his lips.

“I will cleanse his soul from this realm of existence!” Purgatory snarled.

“Personally, I vould like to figure out how he summons zhat “Ether” of his,” N.E.D. stated. “It could be useful for future Neo-Human development…”

“I”LL MURDERR HIIIIMM!!” roared 1:30.

“Jeez, you guys have a massive hate-on for Tsu-Tsu!” Saturn shook her head resignedly. “I’d better find him first to take him away from all this rage.”

Weiss raised a hand to calm the renewed chatter. “Alright, alright, settle down everyone. We’ll get to all that when we find him.” He turned away from the ruins of the CS HQ, leading the way back home. “For now, we earned our rest today. Let’s get back to the base...we have all the time in the world to plan.”

As the group left, N.E.D. just shook his head at their hefty hate for the last known member of the Society. “Ach, Veiss...your short-sightedness vill get you killed...” With that last concerned thought, N.E.D. silently separated from the group and continued back to his own base.

To be continued...
-THE BEGINNING OF THE END-

And with that, we end Chapter 2. Now with everyone's Ban-Stories justified and the villains preparing to make a base for themselves, the stage has finally been set. Where will our heroes go from here? Who knows.

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Written by: :iconthespidermanager::iconsliveremperor:

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Dragonuv3's avatar
I can't wait till Tsuneo makes his appearance.

Also, classy Amethyst. VERY classy >w>;