>>111211300I've been thinking it as basically two paths, once Stella and Steven get to fighting the Authority proper. Steven's route has TW as his final boss, someone who fully agrees and sympathizes with his viewpoint, but WILL NOT listen to his talk no jutsu unless he proves his conviction in battle and bloodshed. Meanwhile Gold is Stella's final boss, someone who she can fight literally forever because of the Gold Persistence abilities they both have. The only way that Stella can win is by talking him down, by beating him in conversation and conviction instead of battle.
Meanwhile Red is the True Final Boss. Once Stella and Steven complete their arcs, fight TW and Gold, and think they've won, Red reveals himself with his betrayal and becomes the true final boss and thematic conclusion both for his nature as a monster to both of them, but also as someone they COULD have dealt with if they had just been in the right place. Steven could have talked Red away from his paranoia and madness, if he had met him centuries ago before all of this. Stella could have fought him, if he wasn't a monstrosity. And beyond that, he's a living hostage situation, holding their friend and ally Copper captive just by existing. He makes an enemy that escalates beyond what either of them have dealt with up to this point, and in fighting him they have to pull out everything they possibly have between the two of them.
The final blow is struck however, because of the core message between both their story arcs: Teamwork. Friendship. Companionship. The thing Red can only take, and never give. Because when the chips are down, Copper forces himself into control of the fusion, and holds Copper still so Stella and Steven can land the final blow.
They're his friends. How could he possibly do anything else?
