InterLUDE: A Quest of Rings

By Xenomorph666

Disclaimer: I own only Perfection and Wraith.

DigitalMan and K2 are © My close friend.

Everything else is copyrighted to their correct owner.

Universe: Spliced-Verse

The Quest Begins

At the time the Maximals were recovering the Stasis Pods, the Planeteers were sitting around their kitchen table while Ma-Ti sat off in a corner with their newest guest, the chimera mutate named Kezqua. The youngest Planeteer sat patiently while Kezqua shared what stories he had of knowing Ma-Ti's parents. The other Planeteers, however, where trying to figure out how to regain the power of their rings on their own. Since the events on Isla Sorna, Hope Island was practically deserted except for the Planeteers and Kezqua. Gaia had vanished, the crystal monitors had vanished and the Planeteers had to call in the GI Joes to help supply them with environmentally friendly generators.

"AHHHHHHH!" Wheeler screeched in annoyance. "Why are we just waiting around?"

"Wheeler we cannot just rush into this problem without knowing what it is." Kwame sighed.

"ARGH!" Wheeler slammed his fist into the table. "You think I don't know that? I just... I can't sit here and do nothing!"

"Well then how about we help you come up with an idea, yo?" Toad smiled as he and the Misfits walked in.

"Oh, great what are you lunatics doing here?" Wheeler groaned.

"Let's just say we like to keep everything in the same category." Larry said as Lina followed him in.

"We got some good news too." Fred said. "Your eco-terrorists have broken rings too, well except for what's her name."

"Blight?" Gi scoffed. "Figures."

"Anyway we thought we'd come over and offer you guys some help." Pietro smiled devilishly.

"We still have no clue as to how we should proceed." Kwame said.

"Well, you could start by going in search of those symbols on Ma-Ti's ring." Arcade said.

"Hey..." Wheeler blinked. "That's not a bad idea."

"Yes it is." Kwame agreed. "We should start researching immediately."

"Done." Arcade smiled as he pulled his laptop from his pack. "The fire symbol was the easiest, it's actually a symbol the Freemason Society."

"New York and home again." Wheeler smiled. "Right?"

"Nope, Boston." Arcade spun the screen of his laptop around.

"Show off." Gi chuckled.

"It's new." Arcade was definitely happy. "Aaaaanyway, Spaz and I decided we could help you there, Pietro's coming along because no one else would work with him."

"Ha!" Wheeler laughed then realized he was stuck with him. "Oh man..."

"Hey!" Pietro snapped. "That's not true."

"And Pyro's coming... well because Pyro knows fire." Arcade admitted.

"And Freemasonry traditions." Pyro said cheerfully.

"Oh this is going to be fun..." Wheeler groaned.

"And Kwame," Arcade continued, "Symbols like your earth one have been found in the Machu Picchu ruins. Lance, Wanda and Fred volunteered to go with you."

"Excellent, hopefully those ruins will hold some clues." Kwame smiled.

"Gi, we found some of those water symbols just off the Mediterranean coast." Arcade brought up a map on his screen. "Althea and Xi will be going with you."

"Let me guess, I get to go with the lunatic cartoon boy." Linka groaned

"Yup, me and Lina too." Toad smiled.

Linka said something in Russian under her breath that everyone understood as a silent curse.

"Other than that nothing much to go on." Arcade said.

"We can go whenever you're ready." Althea smiled, ready for adventure.

As the Planeteers breathed deep, unsure of what to do a voice as clear as crystal spoke from nowhere. "Reclaim what is needed, reclaim hope."

"Gaia?" Wheeler looked around and the island began to shake and tremble.

"What on earth?" Kwame gasped as the huts were ripped apart by gigantic crystals.

Soon the crystals collided and melted into each other forming rudimentary buildings. Then as everyone looked on in awe the five symbols of the Planeteers carved themselves into an arch, each symbol brought about by a flurry of their element. Heart though simply appeared, darkened and painful to look at.

"It represents the unity of people." Ma-ti sighed as he and Kezqua walked up. "You should see the Geo Cruiser."

"Wha?" Wheeler looked at the new crystal caves in confusion as did the others.

"Awe inspiring, ain't it?" Kezqua smiled. "You guys get going Ma-ti and I will keep an eye on the island."

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Soon after everyone left Ma-ti and Kezqua founf that they had one more visitor. Larry had come by with Spirit and Roadblock.

"They came by to help, right?" Spirit asked.

"Yeah, but they didn't cause this." Kezqua pointed to the wreckage of the former houses.

"Hmmm..." Roadblock took a gaze at the wreckage. "Well it's nothing to bark about, it sure doesn't carry their mark."

"He's rhyming." Kezqua blinked in confusion and looked to Ma-ti. "This the guy you told me about?"

"Yup, Roadblock, meet Kezqua. Kezqua meet Roadblock." Ma-ti chuckled.

"Hey Ma-ti, could you show me around a bit?" Larry asked, "I didn't get to see much last time."

"Ok." Ma-ti said as he guided Larry in his chair.

"Ma-ti makes fast friends, a power that truly transcends." Roadblock smiled.

"Don't make me hurt you." Kezqua growled.

"Oh don't worry you'll get used to it, if not we have a wonderful padded cell in the Pit." Spirit smiled.

"It's contagious..." Kezqua grumbled.

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"Ma-ti." Larry spoke up during the tour.

"Yes?" Ma-ti stopped the tour, something in Larry's voice told him it was important.

"I need your help." Larry said. "I've been having these horrible visions, each more terrifying than the next, but they all contradict each other, except on one point..."

"What point?" Ma-ti asked.

"I really shouldn't tell you, but you're the only one who can help me see if it's a real vision or just... something that's likely to happen if we don't do something." Larry sighed.

"Well what is it?" Ma-ti asked.

A silence pervaded before Larry spoke up, "I keep seeing Jean with enormous power and a fire bird surrounding her, then I see her destroying the Heartless, but after that she... she helps them."

"What?" Ma-ti gasped in disbelief. "I don't believe it."

"Neither do I, that's why I need the help of your ring, to explore the visions." Larry said, a trace of fear laced his voice. "There's something else."

"What could possibly be worse?" Ma-ti gasped.

"You keep trying to use your ring to bring her back..." Larry locked eyes with Ma-ti. "Each time, you die."

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AN: I apologize for the insane wait, but I've been drained dry of any ideas for anything until recently. College had burned out my brain, but right now I'm taking half-a year off to rest so expect more stuff soon, especially since this chapter was the biggest hurdle in writing this story.

Anyway, reviews welcome, no flames.