Okay, this is the start of the three-part Alternate Fighter musical set for the one-shots! I own Kitten and the Metamorphosis team, Dany Elfman owns the music from Nightmare Before Christmas, and I hope I got the characters right on the nose. I apologize for any issues, please read and review, and do not flame me. Thank you!
" So, why call all of us here, Boss Wiz?" TL asked.
DP wrinkled his nose at the utterance of that all-too hated nickname. He sighed before he looked down the long table of the members of the Alternate faces he saw then were all the same as the Fictorian's, painted with confusion and bewilderment.
" I'd like to know too," Ranger grumbled. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he stated," I was sleeping off a hangover . . . "
" Too much cogniac and champaign over another bust?" Advent muttered.
A gun cock echoed.
" That doesn't scare me anymore, Twilight!" he yelled.
" Do NOT call me after that devastating book series!" he yelled.
" Please don't bring that up . . . " TL groaned.
" Hey, calm down!" someone yelled.
A fight was already breaking out, again . . . go figure. DP felt his knuckles turn white with rage as they clentched. He soon heard the sound of someone screaming and then a chair being thrown.
If only they had know why he had suddenly decided to call them into the meeting room. If only they knew what he was about to say. If only they knew what he was feeling, and if only he knew what their reactions would be.
Hatred? Disappointment? NO . . . Sadness? Resigning? Fury-
" THAT'S IT!", someone yelled.
THAT was the line.
" ENOUGH!"
The group froze immediately.
DP's red face and piercing, furious gaze were enough to cause the group to cease, silence themselves, and sit down within three seconds.
" THIS . . . is what I called everyone in here for today," he started. His voice took over a solemn persona as the others looked on from their shadowing seats. " Over the past year, we have had to eject two separate members, have suffered the near loss of three members, and had to regain one from the forces of darkness.
" Team relations are at an all-time low . . . sad to say. Half of the time, when someone isn't being the butt of the joke, or literally the subject of someone else's selfish pranks, someone is threatening someone else with a scythe, a knife, mana, a magical blast, sabers, claws, fists, a .22 caliber, or, as of recent, a dog leash."
" O-okay, that last one was an accident, and I can explain that," Tal said, forcing himself not to laugh.
" Tal Ordo, now is not the time or place," DP sadly stated.
The Mandalorian felt his head bow in respect.
" I expect more out of everyone . . . if we all live together, we all must get along, or at LEAST make an attempt to," DP stated. There was something quivering in his voice as he spoke. " Because of this, I have paid for over 1,000,000$ in damages and new paneling for my mansion ALONE . . . I do not want to get started on D-Dude's experimental backfire last week . . . "
The dinosaur Fictorian coughed lightly and flicked his tail back and forth.
" Aside from the bad blood, we have recieved several complaints about members of the Alternate Fighters . . . " He opened the binder and pulled out some paperwork. He coughed lightly as he darted his eyes down the table and the paper. " Ranger, you have been arrested for multiple assaults, threatening the police, and as of recent, trying to kill a cosplayer who resembled a Darkside, according to this police report."
Ranger sighed and growled," He never told me, I didn't think he was fake, and I'm already paying off his hospital bill. I also did him a kindness . . . gave him a reason to not go to the darkside."
" Ha ha," DP continued. " Rook, you've got noise complaints . . . " He looked up and glared. " DUDE . . . YOU need a hobby . . . "
The white haired man turned a bright red as the kitsune pulled at her shirt collar a bit. Nearby, Edge snickered and sat up completely.
" You're not out of this either, Edge," DP stated.
" OH crap baskets . . . "
" You've got speeding tickets for your motorcycle, and according to one officer, you . . . flipped him the bird?"
" I swear, my finger went in the wrong direction, and Naruto was on the bike with me!" he growled. " OH for Pete's sake, you're gonna call everyone out, huh?"
He nodded.
" I-I'll bet Hikari's got nothing!" He said and pointed at her.
" O-on the contrary, Edge-san . . ." Hikari faltered her voice. She twiddled her thumbs and said," I-I ended up crashing a few shop windows when we stopped some Darksides . . . I said I would pay for them, and I forgot . . . for a good three years . . ."
Edge puckered his lips and slumped back down, saying," That's a good three thou' right there . . . "
Rook slapped his forehead, still red, and said," With what we deal with, I'm not surprised."
" Exactly," DP sighed. " There's also issues with the public on Kamalia, X, Ross, the Fictorian's Easter celebration that ended with several rotten eggs about town-"
" Hey, I cleaned them up!" Lunatic shouted from the back.
" -Tal's guns, Advent's killing sprees, Nukid's internet video - "
" I SAID I WAS SORRY!"
" Dj and his brother, mostly for public reapings . . . and on-the-side kills . . . "
" I-I try to do my work in secrecy, but hey, Death cannot be hidden in crowds," DJ shivered, then clutched his scythe.
" It also can't be hidden alleyways or drug motels," Mora snickered.
" OH come on, I escort people! YOU kill without mercy!"
" An' for money half the time," Mora murmured.
" What?" DP and DJ asked.
" Nothin'."
DP sighed and added," There have also been ice melting bills for parts of LA, and recent sightings of the Metamorphosis team going completey bonkers on SAKE . . . "
Everyone turned to Kitten, who whimpered and slid further into her chair. DP sighed and placed the papers back into the binder.
" I'm afraid everyone in here, including me, is up to our knees in citywide complaints, addressments, legalities and battles within the United States and-or other countries," he stated matter of factly, then turned towards the open window. " So much so . . . the mayor of Los Angelos has given me an ultimatum."
The group remained silent.
" Pay up or get out."
" BULLCRAP!" Edge yelled, slamming his hands down. " NO way is that gonna happen!"
" They CANNOT kick us out of our home!" Ranger said, cocking his rifle.
" We protect the city, the world . . . " Kamalia said, then growled out," They CAN'T just toss us aside like a tumbleweed!"
" HELL NAH!" Tal yelled.
" I agree with Kam," Ross said, then gripped his fists. " And I am NOT going without a fight!"
" D-Demo . . . " Kitten shivered.
Rook smirked and said," Think a Persona-fication might change his mind?"
" Boo," Phoenix growled, then shut her book. " THINK LOGICALLY, people . . . "
A dark silence escalated.
" If it were that simple, the city would have paid for all of this . . . obviously, we've given the city and the mayor MANY a reason to distrust us over the past few years . . . along with good reasons to distrust each other," Phoenix stated bluntly.
Advent blinked as he said," D-Damn . . . you know, when I agree with someone it's odd, but . . . I agree."
Hurricane's Quill and Marcus nodded side by side.
" Exactly . . . " Quill sighed. " I have to agree with Phoenix and DP here. WE caused this mess, WE have to clean it up, WE have to pay the price . . . no matter the cost."
Marcus sighed and whimpered," Although I wish mine didn't involve a couple zeroes . . ."
" Agreed," Edge sighed nearby.
The Fictorian brothers all nodded at once and said," Yep."
" D-demo . . . " Kitten whimpered again.
" My question now is how the Jashin are we gonna PAY all that?!" Advent yelled.
" AHEM . . . "
Everyone turned back to DarkPaladinmon, who was giving them another cold stare over his shoulder. They returned to their seats and resumed their silence.
" Thanks," he said. He turned back around, giving a sad smile. " As for payment, the mayor did agree to something: if we can raise the money to pay all of these off, along with the damages, over the course of seven days, he will forget the debt and agree to let the Alternate Fighters stay to fight another day."
There were bright smiles on several faces as he spoke.
" Faith in humanity restored," Phoenix sweetly stated.
" However, he was very adament over HOW the money should be gained," he said. He reopened the binder and traced a finger down a few pages. " It should be gained legally, thorugh fundraising means, and NOT be forced out of anyone."
A few people groaned.
" You all had to see that coming," XProdigy said, then stood up. " Were there any ideas or proposals as to HOW we can get it?"
" Lemonade stand?" Ranger joked.
Dp stayed silent for a moment before he slowly smiled.
" Musical."
The silence before was nothing compared to the silence now: everyone had a sort of gaping expression, Advent was about to slice his own head of, and Ranger's trigger was about to be plucked.
" I-I'm sorry, DP . . . " Quill stumbled over his words. " I thought I heard something insane in my ear . . . wh-what did you say?"
DP smiled and had his hands behind his back.
" Mu-si-cal."
Another silence.
" FUCK my life . . . " Tal growled.
" SECOND," D-Dude sighed.
" THIRD . . . " Kiva groaned. The member who had remained silent during the entire meeting was now speaking up, and standing up. " DP, in all honesty, I do NOT think this is a logical way to solve this problem . . . can't we just - "
" I'm sorry, Kiva, but the mayor gave me strict restrictions this time around . . . " he sighed.
" So what, you're on HIS leash now?!" Kiva yelled back.
" Good one," Tal snickered.
" It's NOT like that . . . " he growled.
Kiva narrowed his eyed as he said," He said something else, didn't he?"
Quill stood up immediately, sword at his side. He growled out," What did he demand?!"
" N-No," DP sighed. " Just that this was the only other option we had . . . "
" No, he said something else," Kiva smirked.
" Spill the beans, DP," Edge said, charging his mana.
Ranger reloaded his rifle and cocked it.
" Sensei?" Kitten squeaked.
Rook and Trisha peered up eerily.
" NO!" DP yelled.
" SAY IT!" Lunatic yelled.
" Just spill already!" TL yelled.
" SAY IT!" a few others yelled.
" ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!" DP yelled, now red faced. " HE THREATENED TO DEPORT A FEW MEMBERS TO THEIR HOMES OF ORIGIN!"
A final deadly silence loomed over the graveyard of a room. The former steady leader choked and finally cracked his voice. Kiva fell back to his chair, but missed and landed on the floor.
" Wh-wha-"
" He-he threatened to forcefully disband the entire Alternate Fighter team if the debt is not repaid . . ." he sobbed. He covered his face with his hand, feeling tears form and drop. Hikari stood up and patted his shoulder as he continued, escalating to giving him a hug and hiding her own face in his chest. " In those terms . . . it means sending everyone to their own dimensions, realms, and homes away from here."
The silence escalated as more tears fell.
" N-No . . . " Kam started crying. " W-we . . ."
" We-we'll be separated?" TL gasped.
Phoenix kept the book up, hiding the tears that were falling into the pages.
Ranger stood up, pushed his chair in, and stepped out of the room. The slam of the door and cursing in the hall was enough to get the idea of what he felt.
Kitten was already fullblown crying, and took to hugging Rook. He gently patted her head as he felt hiw own stinging tears form. The Persona user looked back up with a face filled with anger and fear.
" He can't . . . "
" S-somehow, he CAN, Wildrook . . . " DP sighed, wiping his tears. " Within seven days, if the money is not collected, it will immediately be reported to the IRS in Washington, DC. The mansion will be torn down by the setting of the sun on the seventh day . . . "
" Fuck . . ." Advent growled.
" Forget that . . ." Edge growled. " NO chances is this guy doing that!"
" He's the mayor, Edge," DP sighed. " And a mayor of one of the most income-driven cities in the United States to boot. He can even take this to the Supreme Court if he wanted . . ."
He turned to a picture on the desk. The man in the photo looked like he was of Hispanic decent, and had a goatee with a mild mustache. His dark hair was greased back, and the combination of looks and suave brown suit gave him an air of sophistication. His eyes, however, remained dead and cold.
" Heaven knows why he hasn't," DP sighed.
" Then, that's where the musical comes in . . . " Quill started in slowly.
" Precisely, Quill," DP stated back. " He said it was the only other option. He allowed sanction and use of a theater in an upscale part of town that we can use for the musical. If we can raise the amount needed, then we will be able to live and fight here without issue."
There were slight whispers abounding as Rook escorted Trisha and the sobbing Kitten out of the meeting room.
" SO," Advent sighed, " now, we have to do this . . . musical, or else the mansion, the team, and HQ are comin' down?"
" Sad to say, Advent . . . " DP sighed sadly. He closed the binder and laid his glasses down. " Sad to say . . . "
A deep silence embraced the group.
" One other question," Marcus asked. " How much is needed?"
" From compiling the bills and everything . . . " he sighed," $1,567,495 dollars and 62 cents."
He gave a sad smile to all of them and stood back up with Hikari.
" I hope you all have the state of mind to do this . . . I would hate to have to return to the Digital World for this . . . Let's do this, open in a week, and save the day!"
" YEAH!" Edge jumped up on the table. " We can do this, people!"
" Still sounds like a load of bull," Tal sighed, " But . . . "
" What if we don't PREFER musicals?" D-Dude pointed out.
" Lighting and costuming?" Phoenix suggested.
DP nodded and said," Meeting adjourned. See you all in an hour at the location of the theater."
The group left the room immediately, leaving dust and a few scraps of paper. DP and Hikari were the only two left standing. She let go of him, but froze in place.
" S-sempai . . . " Hikari said looking at his face. " I don't want to leave you . . . or anyone . . . I don't want to leave this plane, this world . . ."
DP saw tears forming in her eyes swiftly as he walked over. He hugged her tightly, then swiftly kissed her.
" I know . . . I don't want to leave either," he sighed. " I would hate to leave this world, and the team . . . and you."
She gripped his hands and said," Promise me . . . "
He tightened his grip and said," Promise."
The Balance let go gently of his hands and slowly left the room. The door shut slowly as the Digital Duel Monster was left standing in a cold and silent meeting room. He felt a slow chill descend as he raised a hand. With a swift aura appearing, the shades of the window shut and the curtains drew back.
He pulled a chair back and sat down.
" If only I could keep that promise . . . "
He sighed and tilted his head back. A slow haunting melody began to play as he felt the cold of the room embrace his body. He sat back in the chair and looked ahead. The song was so close, yet so distant.
" Oh Lord, what do I do . . . ?"
He sighed silently as he started standing up. The melody increased in volume as he felt his lungs swell up with an urge. He braced his hands on the table before him and took a deep breath.
He had to.
The melody was already playing, the moment was right . . .
He opened his mouth, and in with the haunting melody, he began to sing.
" I have mastered magic's light, and carried on with the fight
against Evil and the villains that they breed."
He barred his hands and felt the melody embrace himself again. He gripped his own fist as a light blue fire appeared over each knuckle.
" I've seen them run in fear, saying 'Alternates are here!',
and have aided this world and town with what they need . . . "
He smirked lightly, feeling tears form, as chairs began floating in midair. The table where he once laid his hands and head was floating in the center as he continued.
" And the powers I possess are of no pure contest
when compared to those on the Vegas' street."
He spun his fingers and the table and chairs began to spin and dance along with the Digital Duel Monster. He was right in the center, right in the middle, as they spun and performed pirouettes.
" No mere mortal or man can match the feats I can!
Not even that Criss Angel the Mindfreak!"
He launched his hands over his head, and sent the table and chair into their original position. The light tone from before, the light he had felt while he sung before, was gone now. The darkness had returned.
The imminent disbanding of the Alternate Fighters was looming over his head once more, and the mayor was holding the strings.
Would he even have the gutts to address him man to Digi-man?
For the sake fo everyone he loved?
He sighed as he felt the cold creep back in.
" And yet, now . . . in my team's time of need . . .
I know that most of all, they truly need me . . . "
He walked to the desk and placed his hands on a framed photograph. The photo was of him and the entire team as it was in previous years . . .
" My magic is no use, my mind is in unease . . .
and the family I embraced needs more than a calm-ing bree-eeze . . . "
He placed the memory down and felt himself choke up with tears. He sat down and braced himself.
" Oh, the aches and pains in my heart
are start-ing to rip me apart . . . "
He wiped his eyes and looked down the table, remembering each member's face and expression, their quirks . . . soon it would be nothing but a mountain of rubble.
He bit his lip and slowly sang," And soon that state . . . will e-cho the team . . . "
He began to leave the room, giving one last look back.
A single tear was falling.
" And all . . . of this . . . will have just been . . . a . . . dre-ee-am . . . "
The meeting room door gently shut.
With apologizes to everyone, and to be continued in part II!