The group continued down the Subspace highway, being led by Mason. Behind him was Scott and Stills and behind them was the other three, Kim at the very end, arms crossed.

Scott looked back at Neil for a second then leaned over to Stills. "So, what happened between you two?"

"Don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Whatever you say, Stephen Stills."

Stills smiled a bit. "Good to have you back, Scott."

Kim watched everyone, her eyes mostly glued to Mason. Her eerie feeling of the young boy wouldn't leave her alone. There were so many questions that needed answered: Who exactly is this boy? Where did he meet Ramona? Where the hell did he get that chalk? Why does Scott trust him so much? Why does she distrust him so much?

A shiver went up and down her spine. What did it mean? Who knows, hopefully her fears wouldn't be realized on this little trip. What exactly was her fear? It was the fear that this was a trap, of course.

She tried shrugging it off. Scott alone was strong enough to take on most challenges. As a group, they should be able to take on anything that would cross their path.

Even with her confidence in everyone, her gut still nagged at her.

"Well, shit."

Mason stopped, everyone following behind closely. "What is it?"

Mason pointed down the highway, revealing a small roadblock: "Ninjas?" Kim looked pissed. "Why the hell are there ninjas here?"

"I don't know." Mason rolled up his sleeves. "But if you want to get to Ramona, we need to kick their asses."

Scott cracked his knuckles. "My pleasure."

"Scott, don' just-"

Kim's attempt at reasoning with him failed. Scott charged into the group of ninjas, sending several flying. The landing caused them to explode into coins.

Scott's attacks were soon halted as the ninjas all pulled out their swords, every blade pointing at him. He gulped. "Oh, shit."

One of the ninjas looked over at another. "Is this the guy?"

The other looked at Scott for a second. "Close enough. Even if it isn't, that just means will kill two instead of-"

His sentence was cut short by a kick to the face, courtesy of Knives. Another ninja went flying through the air, landing on a group of them. Stills stood in the spot the ninja was. Kim charged in soon after, stealing one of the swords and cutting through the group, causing coins to fly everywhere. Scott soon regained his fighting will, stealing another sword and chopping up the ninjas in his way. After all was said and done, the entire highway was covered in coins. Scott, Kim, Stills and Knives were exhausted. Neil was running around, picking up as many coins as he could carry.

Mason walked ahead of them. "We should keep going. If there were ninjas this far away from their fortress, then there will be more the closer we get."

"Wait, we're attacking a fortress?" Kim tightened her grip on the sword. "Seriously, that is something you could've told us."

"It's nothing the great Scott Pilgrim can't handle." Mason began walking forward again.

Scott ran up to him. "What all do you know about me?"

"Everything Ramona told me: How you stood up to her evil exes and even beat down on Gideon Graves, which is a true accomplishment."

"You knew Gideon?"

"Everyone who knows a thing about Subspace does, or did."

"And now?"

"Now he's dead, so who cares?"

The boy's comment was dark, harsh. Scott figured it may have been because of something from his past pertaining to Gideon. Now didn't seem like a time to ask, though.

The group continued on their way, running into packs of ninjas all throughout the highway. I felt like they had been inside Subspace for days.

"When the hell are we getting there?" Kim held her sore arm, the sword she obtained hanging limp in her hand.

"Soon."

"Couldn't you just open a door closer to the fortress?"

Mason stopped. "It doesn't work like that."

Before anyone could ask, Mason continued walking away. Kim walked up to Scott, who was confused. "Do you trust him, now?"

Scott shrugged. "Maybe he's just… Touchy?"

"Shut up, Scott." Kim rolled her eyes, walking away. "Dumbass."

It took what felt like an hour before the group finally reached a hill and over the hill, far off in the horizon, stood a massive, dark and very gothic-looking fortress. Massive walls surrounded it, with only a single gate in the front.

Neil whistled. "That's… Big."

Stills nodded. "Pretty damn big."

Scott looked up and down, scanning the entire building. "Is there another way in?"

Mason shook his head. "We need to go through the main gate, but I don't think it'll be a problem."

"How so?"

"Normally this thing is so guarded you can see black blobs move all over the wall, but I don't see anyone."

"Is that bad?"

Mason once again shook his head. "It's just weird, but good for us all the same."

The group began moving forward slowly once again, everyone showing obvious signs of caution. As they neared the gate, the entire fortress seemed as if it was truly abandoned.

"Is there really anyone here?" Kim looked irked.

"There were tons when I left… Maybe they were all scattered on the highway?"

"Who would be stupid enough to do that?" A look of questioning hit her face. "Actually, who the hell is the one in charge here?"

Mason's eyes got wide. "Um… I don't know…"

"Did I touch a nerve, Mason?"

Mason shook his head rapidly. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. "I really don't know… I just want to get in and out before any guards show." Mason drew a smaller door with his Subspace chalk, opening it quickly. "Let's go, hurry."

The group moved from the gate to the courtyard. Everything seemed quiet. Too quiet.

"I don't like this."

"Get it together, Kim." Stills didn't have room to talk. He looked on edge, too. Everyone did.

"Man, I think we should turn around."

"Neil, we're almost there, calm down." Scott's words were calm, but his fists were clenched tight.

Finally, the group reached the main doors to the building. They continued down the great hall, heading to another set of huge doors. "I don't like this… Shouldn't we be heading for the prison..?"

"He has her in here." Mason's sentence ended as he put his hand on the massive doors. As he opened them, Kim's thought left her lips:

"Didn't you say you didn't know who-"

As the doors opened completely, everyone was shot forward into the throne room, the doors slamming behind them.

A massive force of ninjas swarmed them. They were all surrounded before they could even stand. Kim was about to freak out. "God I hate it when I'm right."

A moment of silence swept over them all, but was soon broken by the sound of clapping. Everyone turned to see a man walking down from where the throne was. He looked eerily like Gideon. The resemblance made Scott go pale.

The man spoke to them, a sadistic smile on his face. "Scott Pilgrim, welcome to my home."