Welcome! Here some bad news, I had the chapter typed up and ready but my computer fried itself wiping the hard drive. So, this chapter plus some other ones were lost. Good news is I will be rewriting them. Sorry for the delay. Just to give you heads up there will a time jump and screwing over a big bad's plans royally. It's after Kingdom Hearts 3 and once I get my hands on the game, I tackle what happened in the events of the game.
Edit: Got the game (100%ed it) and typed up a chapter but I realized it revealed of lot of plot points I wanted to keep hidden for now. So, it will be a later chapter. It will also give people time to experience the game themselves.
Disclaimer: I only own what's mine.
Chapter 12: Strange Chameleon
Dark Hand Hideout
San Francisco, California
6 years after the defeat of Xehanort
Alarms wailed as the panicked thieves ran to the safe rooms. Valmont stood in front of the stone form of Shendu. "Get to your stations! This is a code Vermilion! It's not a drill! I repeat not a drill!" He barked over the intercom. Shendu the demon sorcerer spoke "What did you steal this time?" Valmont doesn't even turn. "Nothing that I know of, let's hope he's in a good mood." He looks at the far wall where a Greek symbol was permanently burned into it.
"Boss, everyone is set." Ratso reports as he and his cohorts, Chow and Finn, enter the room. "Good. Now tell me what you fools stole from him?" Valmont demanded. "Nothing, we learn our lesson after he visited the first time!" Chow says in fear. They quickly duck as Shendu blasts flames their way.
"Then stay silent when Tohru escorts him here." Valmont hisses glaring at them. "Yes boss!" They say and do so. The door opens and a smartly dressed man walks in. behind him the sumo wrestler of a bodyguard Tohru closes the door.
"Valmont, I'd say this was a friendly visit but we both know that you are not on friendly terms with me." His voice was melodic with an edge of steel to it. "What brings the CEO and founder of Rebirth Ice Cream here? Is it perhaps something was taken by one of my employees? I shall have it return post haste if it is so." Valmont said hoping that this didn't end with collateral damage, again.
"Yes and no. Someone stole something but it wasn't you." The CEO said annoyed. They sighed in relief. "Then how can I help?" Valmont inquires. "I need information that will lead me to the current whereabouts of Arsene Lupin III. He stole something that my family lost years ago. It resurfaced recently but Lupin stole it before I had a chance of reclaiming it." The CEO said
"May ask how long ago it was lost?" Valmont asks fishing for information. The CEO raises an eyebrow. "It was lost when the Greek Empire fell. The Romans stole it and that the last time I knew of its whereabouts until Chan uncovered a hidden treasure trove. A week later Lupin does his thing and makes off all of it."
The criminals twitch at Chan's name but they keep quiet. Valmont's eyes gleamed at this. He could make this work in his favor. "What did he steal that is yours?" He presses for information carefully. "A small bronze box with a symbol you know quite well. Bring me the box untampered with or the info to get it back and you will get a reasonable payment when I confirm that it is the real deal."
"Ten million if we deliver the box to you or five million if it's only info." Valmont starts. "Two million with the box or five hundred grand if it's only the info." The CEO counters. "How about we give you a shout if we find any Greek items that may interest you and get you the box or its whereabouts for seven million?" Valmont says sweetening the deal.
The CEO thinks about it. "Deal, I expect you to update me as soon when you have news, right?" CEO asked in a tone that made Valmont fight the urge to run in fear. "Tohru show him the door." Valmont says.
20 minutes later
Valmont stood in his office alone save Shendu and stared at the burnt wall. "It's all starting to make sense. His name, his company, the motto, and his temper, he's a follower of one of the Greek gods. This will require a careful approach. If the gods are involved then we must tread carefully." He says.
"Who is this Lupin?" Shendu asks "A master thief who tells the victim he's coming before he commits the crime." Valmont informs him. "Somehow he pulls it off almost every time." Shendu picks up on what was unsaid "He will be harder to find. Perhaps Chan will be a useful tool."
"Oh, do tell what you mean?" Valmont asks intrigued "It`s simple, tip him off that Lupin stole a magic item and he will lead us right to the thief. Then we will grab the box when they fight and make a swift withdraw." As Shendu said this Valmont grinned. "That is a good plan. Now to set things in motion."
Uncle`s rare finds
San Francisco
3 days later
"Jade! You man the register. One more thing, sell stuff." Uncle yelled from the back. Jade rolled her eyes and leaned back. "This is boring. Too bad Jackie won't let me hunt down that master thief." She imitates Jackie "Jade you are a child. Hunting down Lupin III is no place for children. Stay with Uncle."
The bell above the door tickles as a man that looked like a biker walks in. "Welcome to Uncles Rare Finds, looking for anything in particular?" She recites the line Uncle forced her to memorize. The man smiles "Yes I'm looking for anything Greek you might have."
Jade blinks then run to the back room saying "wait here, I'll get Uncle."
A few minutes later
Jade drags Uncle to the front saying "He's looking for Greek stuff, I don't know if you've got any! Come up before he leaves!" Uncles sighs "Uncle will teach you then. One more thing where is customer?" "I think he's over there." She point to a corner of the shop where the man stood staring at a vase adorned with the scene of a man praying to a hearth and dead crops behind him.
"Ah. You have good eye. This is a recent purchase. It dates back to ancient Greece 450 BC, an Oenochoe Terracotta vase." Uncle says hoping for a sale. The man didn't move but he asked, "Do you know the tale it tells?" "No, Uncle has not figured that out yet." Uncle says wondering if this man was more than just a collector.
"Looks like a farmer down on his luck to me" Jade says. The man chuckles wistfully. "That was my response when I was a kid too. It describes the tale of a farmer who`s crops died due to famine and poor rain. He prayed to the gods yet they didn't answer." The man said looking off into the distance.
"They sound like a bunch of snobs to me." Jade comments carelessly. "You aren't wrong. Luckily, one goddess answered his prays. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, home, keys, living flame, veils, pantry, bowls, and other things." The man continued "She burned the dead crops and told the man to plant again. One year later his crops were full of life."
"What was the price? Uncle knows the gods are fickle." Uncle says with narrowed eyes. This man knows too much to be normal. Uncle had found nothing about the vase, yet this man was telling the tale from memory. "The goddess returned a year and a day later and tasked him and his children to guard her treasures for all eternity. The name of this family is not recorded but they must be continuing to do their duty to this day." The man finished and Jade was impressed.
"Cool story but are you going to buy it?" She asks. The man pulls out his check book. "How about thirty grand for it?" He offers "Give Uncle your name and it's a deal." Uncle says. If Uncle was right, then it was one of THEM. Uncle had found hints of their existence, but it was like catching the wind with your bare hands. You knew it was there, but it remained unseen.
"My name is Zane Laskaris. Pleasure doing business with you" He says handing Uncle the check and leaves the shop. "Aiyah! Uncle must warn Jackie of magic biker cultist!" Uncle says rushing to the phone. Jade grins, now's her chance to find Uncle Jackie and have a slice of the fun.
Lupin III's current hideout
Somewhere in Greece
Same day
"Well, looks like I was right." Lupin says reading the letter he got from his contact. Jigen looks up from the gun he was cleaning. "About what, another treasure to steal or something?" He says putting the gun back together, lighting a fresh cigarette.
"I thinking he's referring to the poor attempts to tail us for the past few days." Goemon says from the corner where he was leaning. "Even Zenigata does a better job." Fujiko says lounging on the coach. "So who is it?"
Lupin grinned "An old friend of mine dropped a letter off at Rebecca's home addressed to me, this letter in fact." He indicates the letter in question. "He requests that I hand over something I've stolen or he will smoke me out and take it by force."
Fujiko raises an eyebrow "Must be important then, what is it?" She asks. Lupin sets a bronze cube roughly 6 inches in size. It had no seems and the top panel had a symbol engraved into it. The symbol was odd; it consisted of a sideways c sitting on a horizontal line with two vertical lines connecting to the middle line. "This box is what he wants." Lupin says confidently.
"That's a box? How do you even open it?" Jigen asks peering at it "That's no seams or mechanism that I can see. What's even in it?" "No idea, but if he's contacting me, then he is desperate to get his hands on it." The tone of Lupin's response was not comforting. "What's the plan? Wait it out or go under the radar?" Fujiko asks amused. "We spring the trap. This is one person you don't cross. I've seen him when his temper gets the better of him and it's not pretty." Lupin said. He remembered the screams and heat of the flames. They burned so quickly that ash was all that was left.
One hour later
Zane's Private jet
Over the Atlantic Ocean
One hour until arrival
"Your men captured Lupin? I find that hard to believe." Zane says flatly. Valmont, who was seated across from, nodded at this "Yes my thoughts exactly but even if he's playing them, you can still get your prize." He says smoothly. "Before we continue, when are you going to stop hiding, Jade?" Zane said this not to Valmont but to Jade Chan who had hid on the plane since before takeoff.
Jade jumped out of her hiding spot ready to fight them yelling "Jackie will stop your evil plans!" The two men look at her then laugh. "Brat, He is not evil. Scary when he needs to be? Definitely. He can be the thing of nightmares if pushed." Valmont says shivering
"But he hired you to get a weapon. Captain Back intercepted the message, that's why he sent Jackie." She reasoned. "It was simply a means to an end. The client wanted something and I made it possible. It's just business." Valmont says as if discussing the weather. "Jade, have a seat and I will tell you the bigger picture." Zane says. She does so "Fine you better not leave out anything." Jade says annoyed.
"I can't tell you everything for reasons you don't need to know. I 'm part of a secret order, who tasked to guard objects that Hestia has deemed hers or too dangerous for mortals." Zane laid out the facts. "Wait you're talking about the vase!" She said as it dawned on her. "Yes. The vase. You get why I bought it." He said happy she paid attention back at the shop. she adds "That makes more sense than you being an alien looking for a WMD." She got a flat look from the adults. "So, what's in the box?" She asks.
"It contains something that is greatly treasured. It is the first treasure that we guarded. I will not tell you any more at this time." Zane says. "Why not?" Jade whines "Because Hestia says so." Zane said ending that topic. "You talked to your god?" Jade asked surprised. "Indeed, I do. Not too often but she makes time to talk to her favored ones." Zane said smiling fondly.
"Perhaps you can tell me how you appeared out of nowhere and became one of the most well-known creameries in the world in just five years?" Valmont asks hoping for answers. "He sells Ice cream? I thought he was just a rich collector cultist." Jades says questioningly. Zane's eyebrow twitches at being call a cultist but he lets Valmont continue talking.
"Zane Laskaris, CEO and founder of Rebirth Ice Cream. At a glance the records of him are authentic but after some digging you will find that are well made fakes. The only thing that isn't fake is the quality of his ice cream. Many have tried to figure out his secrets only to fail utterly." Valmont outlined. "He guards his secrets like a hornet does the hive. Depending on how he feels the spies will be dealt with in amusing ways for all the public to see. He doesn't even try to hide that he did it."
Jade's eyes widened "he's super loaded." She says trying to figure his secret to success. "To answer your unsaid question, I did odd jobs here and there at first. Then I started selling from a bicycle ice cream cart in New York. It was by year three that things escalated quickly." Zane said remembering the hard work he did. "Rebirth Ice Cream. Serving family moments one scope at a time." Jade was speechless. "No, I didn't read your mind." He adds before she says anything.
"Yes, that slogan does suit one of her followers. You have the money?" Valmont asks, "Right here." Zane holds up an armored suitcase "all seven million dollars in fifties." Valmont pleased with this says "you are a man of your word as expected. If things work at least partially well the brat will be returned to Chan and I will have my money."
"Watching one child for a few hours is easy. I had to deal with a summer camp full of 'troubled children' for a full summer. Nice kids but they are trouble incarnate. That's not even touching the rival camps that showed up." Zane says with a shudder. Valmont nods at this "sounds like torture." Valmont remembers something stating, "I am pleased to let you know that the culprit of the 'incident' has been dealt with." Zane nods at this.
"I'm parched. What do you two want? Soda? Hard cider?" Zane says opening a mini frig. "got any cola?" Jade asks and catches the bottle he tosses her "money bags soda?" (This is a real soda. It's owned by Gene Simians of KISS) "I'll pass." Valmont says.
Island of Crete
Greece
65 minutes later
"Jackie! One more thing! The box must not fall into the wrong hands!" Uncle yelled from the cellphone as Jackie held it away from his ear. "Uncle. You've said that about a lot of things. Why is the box dangerous?" he asked. "The box not important! The goddess it belongs to is!" Uncles yelled again "Hestia will be on a man hunt if her rage is incited. One more thing, Jade is missing. She will most likely find you." CLICK Jackie stared at the phone as Uncle said the last thing nonchalantly then hung up. "Bad day." He said resigned.
"Bad day indeed." Jackie looked up to see Lupin III juggling the box Jackie was warned about. "Looks like you were played like a fiddle." Lupin said smirking. Jackie put his cellphone away and demanded in a fighting stance "Hand over the box or I will use force." Lupin just laughed "You don't get it. You're not in control of this encounter."
With narrowed eyes Jackie asked, "And you are?" Lupin smirked "Not a chance. The Bird of the Hearth is. This is all a trap and you are just a pawn in his plan. He's coming for the box and I prefer not being flambé." "The Bird of the Hearth?" Jackie questioned with a touch of dread. Lupin didn't answer as a wave of heat swept over them.
"That would be me. The box?" Zane said striding between them. "Here you go." Lupin tosses it to Zane who examines every inch of it. "you're on thin ice Lupin." Lupin got a cigarette out and put it in his mouth. "Sorry about that old pal. I didn't know it was there and what it was worth to you." Lupin says off handedly as he fiddles with a lighter. It didn't light so he returned it to his pocket.
"Damn" He says "Can I have a light? I don't have a spare lighter on me." Zane points at the cig and it starts to burn. "Thanks" Jackie watched this tensely but turned when he heard a voice he knew. Then Jade runs up to Zane inspecting the box. "Doesn't look like much."
"Jade! What are you doing here? How did you get here?" Jackie asked confused and worried. "She hitched a ride with me." Zane said, "Not a single hair was harmed on her head." This relived Jackie, but he stayed on guard. "the box is the real deal. The money is yours." Zane said into a comm device in his ear.
Lupin had disappeared by this point leaving the three alone. "I won't mince words with you Chan. Here are the facts. The box is now with the original owner and it will stay that way. Try and stop me and Jade will be left with a barbequed uncle." Zane said in a no-nonsense voice. Jackie let him leave knowing it was too risky to try anything.
"Jade, do you know who that is?" He asked in a tense tone. "He's rich, makes ice cream, scares Valmont, and is loyal to Hestia." Jade ticks off on her fingers nonchalantly. "He's also on Section 13's watch list. He is the boogieman of the criminal underworld. He's driven people to turn themselves in just to be safe from him." Jackie said shivering. "Valmont wasn't kidding." Jade says then remembers something. "He told me that he that he needs someone to babysit his adopted daughter next month. So, I told him that you could do it." She said smiling.
Jackie paled saying "Bad day."
Three years prier
Fuyuki City
Fourth Holy Grail War
The Docks
Zane watched Saber and Lancer battle it out. "This is makes up for the lovely encounter a few days ago, right Caster?" He said sitting on a shipping container not far from the battle. "Can you confirm who is watching?" a male voice said in his mind. "everyone is here, even Assassin who seems to be not dead. How's Sakura?" He asked
"She's still recovering. I'd like to say she'll be fine, but she'll have issues to work out." The voice replied telepathically. Rider, true to his class, rode in on a chariot pulled by oxen. "Heroes Sheath your blades! For I am Iskandar, the King of Conquest!" Rider proclaimed.
Zane was speechless. "Master, you know him?" Caster asked "You could say that. I better greet his majesty." Zane turns into a bird and flies to the battle site.
Saber's POV
Saber looked at Rider with disbelief. Who would do that, telling the enemy who he was? Pure Arrogance was all it was. She was interrupted when a majestic bird landed on one of lancer's spears. "Well, that is a rare sight. It's not a phoenix but firebirds are still rare" Rider said as Lancer tried and failed to get the bird to perch elsewhere. It moved from one spear to the other mocking him.
"what is a phantasmal beast doing here, is it the work of a servant?" Waver, a twiggy brat who was Rider's master in this war, said. "Stop hiding in the shadows!" Rider yelled to the watchers. "Why should I needlessly risk my life when Lancer does the fighting for me." Lancer's master sheered as he projected his voice from his hidden vantage point.
"Heroes aid my conquest" Rider asked bombastically. "I must decline your offer." Lancer said as the bird perched on his head. He had given up and let the bird perch where it wanted. "I ruled as king, so I will not lower myself to being ruled by you." Saber said firmly. "Oh! The King of knights is but a girl?" Rider comments as Saber glares at him.
"I guess negotiations have failed." Rider says expecting this. "Not quite your majesty." A melodic voice says, "You will find that allies come from the oddest of places." The servants and masters look around for the speaker only to hear the voice says. "I'm over here." They look to the bird who was quite smug.
"You wish to aid my conquest?" Rider asks the bird. "It would be an honor to aid one of the greatest Greek rulers." The bird said and perched on the chariot. Rider laughed commenting "spoken like a true Greek. Do you have name you like to be called? It'd be rude to call you bird all the time."
"I have many names, some I didn't want, but I'm stuck with them. I'd prefer to not tell them for the walls have ears. So just call me Caster for now." Caster (Zane) said with a shrug. "You white haired one, what is your view on children?" Caster (Zane) asked Irisviel completely ignoring the angry ranting of Lancer's master.
His question was an odd one Saber thought to herself. He had anger simmering under surface of his voice and his eyes blazed with intense fury. Saber wonder who it was directed at. Irisviel answered the question without pause "As a mother I know children are priceless gifts to be cherished." She smiled thinking of her daughter.
"Exactly. That's why what's about to happen it totally justified." Caster (Zane) said as the Matou mansion off in the distance was consumed as a pillar of ghostly blue fire erupted, scorching the heavens and shaking the earth. As the aftershocks subsided and they regained their balance, Saber put her wind cloaked blade to the bird's neck. "Explain yourself!" She demanded.
"I have a dim view on child abuse, what happened at that place was worse. So, I purged it from the face of the earth along with its owner, who will be enjoying Tartarus for his crimes." The bird snarled coldly as that anger she detected earlier flared briefly before he got his composure back. "Tohsaka! You are lucky the Hearth hasn't called for your death yet!" He yelled then flew off, leaving all but Rider confused.
Rider's POV
This was chilling news. He pitied this 'tohsaka'. At the same time, he had a good idea who 'caster' was or rather what group he was a part of. "What was he talking about?" Waver asked shivering. The flames were terrifying from here. "There are forces at work that have been hidden in the shadows for a long time. Be on guard, Waver." Rider assured him with a grim look on his face.
From above them a prideful voice said, "He is a servant of the gods, but I will let him live because he interests me." They look up to see a blonde-haired man in golden armor looking down on them from a light pole. "Oh. And who are you to claim that right?" Rider asked amused. The man said in a proud tone "It is my right as the one true king of this world. There for, all it's people and treasure are mine by right."
"Then what do you can call what caster did?" Waver asked bravely as he could. Rider was impressed that he even tried to ask the golden servant at all. The golden servant in a bored tone said "weeding the garden. Unsightly pests are not uncommon, correct?"
Line break
three days later
Einzbern castle
Fuyuki city outskirts
Kiritsugu Emiya looked at the intel on the enemy masters and servants. "Berserker's master is MIA, likely dead based on the pool of blood in the alleyway, but no body was found." He looks at Saber and asks, "What do you know about Caster?" She collects her thoughts. "He's of Greek origins and follows Hestia, goddess of the hearth." Saber answers "He's a powerful pyromancer but those flames were not normal." She thought back to the crater that was formally a mansion. "For a caster he's good at hiding. I sensed no trace of him in the city." She reports.
Kirisugu hid his displeasure at this. It was a setback that he didn't need. The castle was still damaged from the attack by Lancer's master, luckily Saber wasn't hit by Lancer's cursed spear. The last thing he needed was Saber to be handicapped by an unhealable wound. "Avoid confronting him for now." He ordered and Saber nodded.
Irisviel felt a chill done her spine. "I'm worried Kiri, what will happen to Illya? I don't doubt you will win but you know." She trailed off Kirisugu knew what she meant. If he failed, they would likely punish him by keeping his daughter from him. Maybe there was a way to prevent that but was it worth the risk?
He wrote a coded message and sent it to the one he knew would help.
Zane's hideout
same time
Sakura awoken feeling better. She was in a soft bed and the sun was shining through a window. Her hair was her original brown color again. This had to be a trick. She knew Grandfather must be doing this to dash her hopes just like he did in the past. Turning she saw Uncle Kariya resting in a chair. He looked more dead than alive. Any minute now Grandfather would throw her in the worm pit.
Kariya woke with a shuddering cough and blood dripped from his mouth. He looked relived she was awake. "Your safe, Sakura. He's gone." He smiled weakly trying to reassure her. He grasped her hand. She felt his grip loosen as he died with a smile on his face. She knew it was too good to be true. As tears filled her eyes a stranger entered the room. He had blue hair, wearing strange robes and carrying a staff.
"Damn. I thought he'd last longer." The stranger had an accent she couldn't place. He's tone wasn't mocking like her grandfather, it was resigned. "Don't worry, Little Lady. You are safe." He said. She shook her head. Grandfather will find me, it's hopeless." She said in despair. the man laughed coldly "That fiend will have a hard time finding you. He's enjoying his destination in the afterlife. Zane and I, made sure of that."
She was unsure of what to feel. "Really?" She asked praying it wasn't a dream or a trick. He smiled kindly "Down to the last fragment. You're free from his clutches. Where you go from here is up to you. We can take you back to the tosakas if you want?" when he said that name, she felt angry at her father who gave her away. "Or not, clearly it's not a good idea at the moment." He figured. "When Zane gets back, we'll work out what to do."
That name again. "Who is Zane?" She asked softly. "why does he care what happens to me?" The man paused then answered "He's complicated. Oh right! You may call me Caster. I'd prefer to be summoned in the Lancer class but what can you do." He says with a shrug and picks up her uncle's corpse. "When your ready we'll hold a funeral for your uncle. He destroyed himself to save you, you know. The only reason he was alive was to see you safe." Caster said with respect.
Maybe there was still hope. She thought as she drifted back to sleep not knowing the chaos that was unfolding at that moment.
Later that night
Hill overlooking Tosaka Manor
"OK Lancelot. Pitch this soft ball hard enough to reach and hurt that fool but not enough to do permanent damage." Zane says passing the ball to the berserker class servant who was quite sane do to a command seal. "Would it not be better to behead him for his crime?" Lancelot asked taking the ball that became cloaked in black with red veins on it. Zane snorts "He's a moron who was hoodwinked by a monster. Besides he has another daughter to look after. Pain will set him straight." Zane grinned
"If you say so." Lancelot throws the ball and is rewarded by the sound of glass breaking and a high-pitched scream of pain. "Direct hit!" Zane cheered. "You should find Saber if you want that fight." Lancelot smiled sadly "Thank you and farewell, Knight of the Hearth." He left Zane alone on the hill. "Joy, another title. At least it's cool sounding." Zane shrugged slightly annoyed and walked away whistling a cheery tune.
The next day
Zane's hide out
Sakura observed the white-haired girl she was eating breakfast with. She looked about her age 8 years old. She was talking about finding chestnut buds and her father carried her on his shoulders. Sakura was jealous of her.
As they finished eating, Zane entered the room. "Sorry about not being here when you woke up and sorry about your uncle. I tried to heal him, but he was running on will power alone by the time I found him." He paused then asked "This might be a bit early, but I was thinking of adopting you if you like. You'd travel from time-" He was cut off when Sakura rushed over and hugged him crying with happiness and sorrow. Her tears spilled forth and he patted her on the back comfortingly. It was a good ten minutes before she stopped crying, but she still clung to him.
"Girls, this is important. I'm going to have you stay here until the war is over. I'd say a week or two at most there are things I need to do." Sakura hugs a little longer then lets him go. "you'll return, right?" She asked. "Without a doubt." HE answered and grabbed a jar with complex markings on it. "What's that?" Illya asks her red eyes filled with curiosity. "to put it simply, an unbreakable jar to trap things. I worked on it for years, Caster helped work out the bugs, but it's instrumental to saving the universe."
"From what?" She asks with wide eyes. Zane shows them two gemstones that glowed with an inner light. One was orange and the other was purple. "These are two of a set of six powerful stones. It's dangerous to possess enough one of them. I obtained them to stop someone with nasty plans. He will hunt for them, so I need a plan to take him down. Be safe and play nice. Luckily, I've got a few years to do so." He said putting the stones away and leaving for his errands.
Two weeks later
Outside of Fuyuki city
"do you regret letting me win the war?" Zane asked Kirisugu. Kirisugu sighed "You stopped a disaster and saved my daughter from a worse fate. My question is what you will do with the millions of curses you removed from the grail?" Zane patted the sealed jar. "It will stop a greater evil. Kill one to save the universe. It's that how you work, right?" Kirisugu scowled. "Not anymore. Too many innocent lost and too much guilt in the end. Who is the one you will kill?" Zane sighed "A mad titan who wishes to court death."
Present time
Uncle's Rare Finds
San Francisco, California
6 years after the defeat of Xehanort
One month after the box retrieval Mission
Uncle heard the front door bell ding. Looking up he said with a smile "Welcome to Uncle's Rare Finds. How can I help you?" He stared at the duo standing before him. A young brown-haired girl, around 11 years old, and a black cloaked figure who towered over her. The figure looked to be seven feet tall.
Uncle felt a chill, that figure felt like he wasn't there at all. The figure's voice sounded male "Is this where a 'Jackie Chan' currently lives?" Uncle answered coolly "That is Uncle's nephew. What do you want?" the girl shuffled forward shyly "He agreed to keep an eye on me while father is dealing with something dangerous." She said with a worried undertone.
Uncle's posture softened. "Uncle understands. What of other family?" She shakes her head. "They have dangerous jobs or are too busy." He nods at this. "what about him?" he points to the figure. She sighs. "He's just there to keep me safe not happy." She says sadly. The figure snorts "As long as your safe the boss won't scrap me. You humans are so dependent on social interaction."
The girl elbows him and there's a clanging sound from the impact. "ow!" she says nursing her elbow. "You should have remembered from the last time you did that, Princess?" He says amused. She pouts crossing her arms. "Father should have left you at the bottom of that river. Stupid Tsukumogami." She mutters.
Uncle knew what it meant. "Why would your father employ an ensouled object as a bodyguard? Surely a living person would be more trustworthy." He inquired curious. Spirits were crafty and deals tended to end in disaster. Sakura shivered "thugs kidnapped me because of a gift Father gave me." She showed him a charm bracelet made of a bluish metal. She smiled proudly continuing "Then Father came and saved me. He's the greatest!"
The Tsukumogami scoffed "Lord Dio would beat him with ease." He slumped in despair when Sakura piped in "Anubis, that same 'lord' was beat by the Jostars, who were also the ones to leave you at the bottom of the Nile for years." Anubis? What sort of spirit was named after a god of the afterlife? The bell above the door tinged as Jackie and Jade walked in. "Uncle. I'm home." Seeing the black cloaked figure, Jackie spring into action and tried to kick the Tsukumogami. CLANG!
Jackie only achieved a hurt foot and ringing ears. "Jackie! Don't attack customers! One more thing, you are watching little girl. One more thing, punching Ensouled armor is foolish!" Uncle scolds Jackie hitting him on the forehead with each 'one more thing'.
Jade walks up, rapping her knuckles on the armor and whistles hearing the metallic clang. "Cool. What's your name?" She asks Sakura with her hands in her pockets. Sakura slyly says "Sakura Laskaris." All the Chans stare at her in shock.
"Aiyah! Jackie! Why did you promise to babysit daughter of magic biker cultist! One more thing, did Uncle not warn you not to get on bad side of the Children of the Hearth?" Uncle yells. Jackie yells back "It wasn't my idea to babysit the daughter of the Bird of the Hearth! Jade did it." Unlike the other Jade was excited. "So, is it true that Zane scared the living daylights out of the Dark Hand to save you? Oh! Did he tell you what's in the box?"
Sakura stared then smiled. "She's was just like how Father described her." She whispers to herself. By now the adults stopped yelling. "Come! Uncle make tea." He pushed them to the kitchen after flipping the store sign to closed.
Five minutes later
"Sakura what can you tell us about the box? Is it dangerous?" Jackie asked. Sakura shook her head. "Dangerous? no. Important? Yes." She paused narrowed brows "It contains the 'contract' the farmer made with Hestia. It's a, I think he described it as metaphysical, proof of the deal that binds the Laskaris family to their promise."
"That's it? That sound like a lame treasure!" Jade cries dismayed and annoyed. "Jade, not all treasures are gold and jewels. Sometimes they are intangible things." Jackie said trying to teach Jade to be less materialistic. "Uncle suspected something like that. The box was said to be forged by smith god and quenched in the River Styx. To break such a deal will bring doom upon you." Uncle says grimly.
"The fossil knows a thing or two after all." Anubis says snidely. Uncle's eyebrow twitches at the insult. Jade looks at Sakura's luggage and asks, "Is that doll moving?" Sakura looks and says amused "Amber you know you can't move around normal people." She takes out a blue hair doll wearing a gray blue Victorian style dress and rabbit ears headband. Her blue eyes twinkled with mischief as she pouted and crossed her arms.
"But Princess, it was stuffy in there." The doll whined "And they aren't normal. They are like you and Lord Zane, interesting." The doll was set on the table and curtsied "Greetings. I am called Angelic Amber. Pleased to meet you." Amber said politely. "Uncle did not know there was another guest. Uncle will bring tea." He sizes up the roughly two-foot doll. "Do dolls drink tea?" He asks.
Amber giggles "Yes I can. Other toys don't have the advantage of magic as I was blessed with." She said pridefully as Anubis snorted "Please. You call that magic? All you can do is not break and consume food and drink." Amber glared at Anubis and Jade swear that there were sparks flying between them as flames radiated around them.
"Behave you two." Sakura barked sharply at the two. "Yes princess." The duo said looking ashamed. "You are always like this." Sakura says exasperated. "It's the tin dog's fault. He's proud as a peacock and has an ego to match." Amber tries to plead her case. Anubis butts in "I'm a STAND! Pride is completely warranted! You are just a toy that Lord Zane took pity on!" Shaking her head Sakura said "why did Father send him to guard me? He knows this happens." Jade watches the duo bicker. "So, what started the feud?" She asks. Sakura sighs "Anubis made a snide remark. Amber replied in kind and they never let it go."
"At least it doesn't come to blows." Jackie says as the duo finish their argument for now. "I wonder what Zane is doing right now." Jackie wondered out loud. "Lord Zane is investigating a relic to see if it needs to be removed." Amber said. "Not all relics need to be placed in the vault. Lady Hestia is more lenient with the treasures than she was in the past."
"Sure, she is. Those treasures have weak, useless abilities, or have nothing special at all about them." Anubis adds. "A ring that detects bad food is useless." "Is not! It is an aid that insures Lord Zane never gets food poisoning." Amber pauses then continue talking "I think it detects poisoned food too." Anubis thinks about it. "OK. That is useful. Tyrants have been felled a sip of poison a lot." Anubis conceded.
"Does Zane collect relics other than what was there?" Jade asks Anubis, who was silent, as the others look at him. He caves "Fine! Lord Zane has added to the collection without consulting Hestia. It's not like anyone will miss them."
"can I see it?" Jade asks excitedly. "NO!" Anubis, Uncle, and Jackie say simultaneously. Sakura chuckles "He lets people see the safe relics and trinkets. He doesn't let anyone enter the deep vault EVER. The rule of thumb is 'don't touch unless you are told you can'." "A wise rule that Uncle understands perfectly why it's in place." Uncle says sipping his tea.
Meanwhile
Present time
Ten days later
Deep space
The Sanctuary II burned are flame devoured it from within. Its metal hull warped and blackened as the black flames greedily rendered the warship to chucks of space junk. Only the skeleton of the once proud
vessel was left with the bones of its passengers to join it.
Zane exited the burnt husk of the Sanctuary II, he was carrying the infinity gauntlet that he took from Thanos. Using the curses as a battery to use the Teraflare spell and not die turned out to be a bad idea in a way. Sure, it killed the enemy and saved the Statesman from being blown up, but he couldn't salvage anything from the ship. He looked at his armor, soot coated it black. "Man, Thanos can punch with the fineness of a surgeon." Zane said as his broken ribs reminded of the week-long torture Thanos put him through.
Judging the distance, he grabbed a chuck of the ship and kicked off, propelling himself towards the Statesman. He passed out before he reached the disabled ship.
On board the Statesman
Medical bay
"Brother, Thanos' ship is destroyed but the possibility of his death is unclear." Thor said to Loki as the lights flickered. Loki nodded but said "What of the blackened warrior? Ally or enemy? What I'm sure is he's no ally of Thanos."
On the bed lay the warrior, who when they got him on the ship had been clad in red and bronze armor with a bird motif. It even had a cape made of feathers of a firebird. The fingers of the gauntlets ended in talons and the greaves had spikes at the tip. An emblem of a bird with spread wings and an unknown symbol in front of it was on the chest plate. The helmet looked like the head of a bird of prey, fierce and majestic. They discovered it turned into a metal pauldron and armored vest.
"Brother, what are his injuries?" Thor pressed. Loki looked at the list. "Multiple broken bones, likely torture based on how precise they were done, and bruising across his whole body." Thor noted that Loki was not saying something. "What did you find on him?" Loki sighed and said, "He has two infinity stones."
"He's a mortal. Where are the stones and which ones?" Thor roared in shock. "Still on his person. They refused to be taken. As for which ones, Power and soul." Loki answered showing a singed hand. "Other than that, he's got a number of trinkets that have simple enchantments like poison detection and an odd stopwatch that I can't discern what it does at the moment."
The stopwatch looked normal enough. The skull design on it was a bit odd but it seemed to be just a morbid style choice. Just then it started to shake as he was inspecting a corpse. Loki popped it open and the hands began to sign.
Glimpse of the past
Point Zero
Thor and Loki were standing in the middle of a confrontation between Thanos and the Warrior. "Tell me where the stone is, and you will be set free." Thanos offers. "And Tartarus is a paradise! When you meet death tell him Zane sent you! TERAFLARE!" The warrior, Zane, declared with a sickly black fireball forming in front of him then exploding as Thanos yelled in agony.
Loki and Thor stood in the still scenery, a glowing doorframe off to the side looking out of place. "Did we just witness Thanos' death?" Thor asked in awe of the stop watch's ability. Loki was to busy looking at a jar that sat at Zane's feet. From the runes on it he knows it contained something that powered the fireball. The energy flowed from the jar to the fireball. It had an aura of wrongness just like the fireball did.
"Interesting. He used a jar of curses to supercharge the fireball. A risky move but it worked. Thor, did you find a jar?" Loki asked "yes, it was undamaged oddly enough." Thor answered. Loki pressed "Did it feel 'wrong' in any way?" Thor thought about it. "No. it felt like a normal pot."
Loki sighed in relief. "Then all of the cruse energy was used up. Let's go back." The entered the doorframe with new insight.
Onboard the Statesman
The Bridge
Thor, Loki, Bruce Banner, and Heimdall were discussing what they learned. "So Thanos is dead because of a suicidal fireball attack?" Bruce asked not sure what to believe. "Not suicidal, more like a stupid idea on his part." Heimdall corrected. "The curses desired only destruction. He was foolish to bank on it, even if it worked."
"That aside, can he be trusted with two of the six." Thor asked the all-seeing and all hearing Asgardian. "My king, he can be trusted not to abuse their power. In fact, he barely uses them at all." Loki asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "Will help arrive or will we drift in space forever?"
"We can only hope someone comes soon." Bruce answered. "I will seek out a new weapon when I have the chance." Thor says stomping out of the bridge.
A few hours later
Onboard the Benatar
The guardians of the galaxy had just arrived at the origin of the distress call and served the aftermath in disbelief. "It can't be. That's the Sanctuary II, one of Thanos' ships." Gamora said gripping her seat. "Looks like someone flambéed it. Hopefully with daddy dearest in it." Rocket Raccoon said with a chuckle.
"I am Groot." The teenaged Groot said. "Yeah I did a good job." A voice said and they turned to see a transparent person floating near Groot. "What's with the dead guy?" Drax asks. Said 'dead guy' chuckled "It's called astral projection. One of the powers the soul stone can give its user. My Name is Zane, Slayer of Thanos as of, I'd say, seven hours ago."
Starlord was skeptical but he rolled with it for now. "How did you kill Thanos?" Gamora questioned "My father does not die easy." Zane grimaced "With a Teraflare spell. Not my brightest moment but it worked." "Tera what?" Rocket asks confused.
"Teraflare. A boss tier AoE fire spell that hits all enemies with heavy fire damage. The mana requirements for it are beyond insane but I had a battery on hand. He had it coming anyways, after being at his 'tender mercy' for a week, I was not happy with him." Zane spat angerly. They got the picture. "So, where's your body? Floating in space?" Starlord asked. "Don't worry it's on the intact ship, recovering from Thanos' bone breaking treatment." Zane paled. "Shit! My wife is going to kill me." He exclaimed.
"I am Groot!" Groot says laughing "Whipped is right." Rocket laughs too. "At least I'm married to a badass wife. She'd turn you to icicles with ease." Zane fired back. "You are in pain." Mantis said using her powers as her antennas glowed. "Blame Thanos. He's been chasing me for over three years after I 'obtained' the power stone from The Nova Corps vaults. I refused to tell him where it was, and he was displeased." Zane answered with a shrug.
"Wait! You're telling me you have two infinity stones on you right now? How the hell did Thanos catch you?" Rocket yells Zane looked away and mumbled "he knew about my daughter." They went silent at that. "That would do it. She safe?" Zane nodded saying "She is safe from him, but he still has children out there."
Zane looked out the window "As long as the Black Order lives, she won't be safe." Starlord pipes in "We'll be happy to help but We're a little strapped for cash…" He trails off. Zane chuckles dryly "I'll be happy to pay you for any aid you can provide. But first you need to help the Asgardians. Their ship is not going anywhere because the damage to the propulsion system. Think you can fix it?"
"Pay us and We'll tow the damn thing to port." Rocket declares. "Done and done. As soon as I can, I will pay you. I swear on the River Styx." As Zane sworn his oath, a thrum of something answered. "What was that?!" Rocket said. "I am bound by my oath because the styx will punish me should I break it."
"You mean the Greek River Styx? That's real?" Starlord asks "Very real." Zane said flatly. "Now if you will excuse me, I've got a place to check out." Zane flickered away for sight leaving them to do their task.
Same time
Western Cuisine Nekoya
The rush hour was in full swing when Zane ghosted in. "Welcome to Nekoya… EEK!" The demon girl Aletta jumped in fright. "MASTER! A ghost has come to haunt the restaurant!" She ran to the kitchen as the guests looked up and had varying reactions. Some were scare, others shocked. Unsurprising Red Queen just looked up and said coolly. "You've gotten in a spot of trouble or is it out of trouble?"
Sarah Gold, a treasure hunter, was shocked but as a treasure hunter she knew Zane. "Zane! You most be in a bad to be 'ghosting'." She said with a laugh. With that the guests calmed down so Zane could tell his tale.
Lionael, the lion demon warrior laughed "Come tell us what mighty foe you faced." Zane floated down to sit at a table. "You remember I stole the Power stone over three years ago? Well the nut job that was after it chased me for those three years to get it."
Master aka the head chief walks in at that moment "Zane please refrain from ghosting in. You scared Aletta half to death." Zane shrugged "I didn't have a choice. My body currently has more broken bones than unbroken ones, so it's ghosting or deal with dreams until I'm healed."
Master understood. "When you're healed up make sure to come by in person." He reentered the kitchen. "Now back to the story. Thanos used my daughter's safety to make me come to him but I had a plan."
The fairies enwrapped by the story asked, "What plan?" Zane smiled and said, "I bided my time and after a week of torture, I got the chance and blasted him with a Teraflare!" Altorius, the elderly sage and magic user, spat out his beer in shock. "What! How are you alive? That level of spell is only cast by large groups of magic users working together or some kind dragon or god!"
"Well… I did use a mana battery for the bulk of the energy requirements." Zane said sheepishly. "Good news is he's burned to only his hand bones left and the relic he was going to use." Lionel laughed heartily "Well done. Even if it was not steel, it is a worth kill. A toast to Zane the hero!" Everyone cheered as Zane smiled. This was what he needed, a stress-free place to relax.
Red Queen smiled. Teaching Zane that spell paid off. Kuro telepathically asked her "He has not used the spell for revenge, why?" She knew this to be true. Zane had asked for a means to defeat someone he hated. She gave it to him anyways to test him. Yet it was seven years later he used it on someone else. He had grown as a person in that time. "He found a reason to live beyond the war he faced from within and without. Maybe now he will find the answers he's hunted for so many years." She replied the same way. "Besides, he is one of my treasures I have grown to enjoy having around. His enduring will shall burn brightly no matter the darkness."
2 weeks later
Avengers Earth
Avengers HQ
Zane sat at the bar with Loki, Thor, Tony Stark, Nick Fury, and Peter Parker, who was drinking soda.
"So, you're the one that killed Thanos. I can't say how much I appreciate what you did." Nick Fury said standing before Zane who was healed but he stayed a little longer to relax. "I was planning to stop him anyways. What do you really want to say?" Zane asked as Tony passed him a drink. "Would you be willing aid us with missions in the future?" Fury said.
Zane laughed "Maybe. I've got a family to get back to." Tony chuckled "he's got you there, pirate. So, can I see your family?" Zane shows them a picture of Aqua, and Sakura smiling for the camera. "Mr. Laskaris, I don't mean to be rude, but is she adopted?" Peter asked.
"Yeah. It was just after I stole the power stone, I was hiding out on an earth like planet and got roped into a small-scale war to the death with a 'wish' being the price." Loki snorted "Is that where you collected the curses? Wish granting things without a cost are too good to be true. How does that have to with your daughter?"
"I saved her from a bad place." Zane said without explaining. Loki understood. "Friend Zane, what is her name?" Thor asked "Sakura. She's worried sick, I bet. Aqua was quite irate as you heard." Zane chuckled. "Yes, Lady Aqua was quite verbal when you called her." Thor downed his beer in one go. "another." Tony gives him a refill.
What happened next was a frenzy of action. A portal opened near Peter ready to swallow him. Zane pushed him out of the way and fell into the portal yelling "don't worry! I'll find a way back!" They stood there with mouths agape. "He's got odd luck." Loki says flatly "Knowing him he will be back soon."
"Why's that?" Fury asked, "He left the picture behind." Loki points to out. "Fair point. He's got a tracker on him. Stark, is it still working?" Fury asks. Tony shows them a tablet with a weak reading. "Still working. Looks like dimensional interference. I'll work out a way to get him back."
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to write. Video games and other things made finishing it difficult. Next time will have spoilers for Spiderman into the spiderverse. So, you've been warned. Teraflare is a skill from FF only used by bahamout.
