Chapter 21: Freedom

The group reappeared outside of the gates.

"Why'd we end up here?" D-Dude asked.

"I do not know." Replied Hiro, adjusting his glasses, "I cannot get back in…"

"Looks like we've gotta do it the old fashioned way." Kakashi said, pocketing his Icha Icha Paradise.

Shrapnel, however…

"HOLY CRUD! I LOVE THIS! THE GREAT OUTDOORS!"

"You…don't get out much, do ya?" TL asked.

"Nope." Replied Shrapnel, "It's always grant this, grant that, and grant this, then BAM! Back to my lamp…or portable prison. I'm lucky to see daylight every century or so."

"Hate to be in your position." Sasuke said.

"Hey, Shrapnel." Peter said, "What if…I used my last wish to set ya free?"

Shrapnel's eyes bugged out as he shouted, "YOU'D DO THAT FOR ME?!"

"I promise." Replied Peter, "After we help Claire."

"Of course, it's ALWAYS after we help the damsel in distress." Shrapnel muttered.

LOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOH

Claire was running through the streets, trying to get away from a group of Dark Souls. However, a blur of color ran around her, tying her legs together then her arms. Daphne then stopped with a smirk.

"About time we caught you." The speedster said.

LOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOH

The group was in an apartment…which was pretty cramped, considering the people in there: Peter, two Japanese guys, three ninjas, a trigger-happy genie, a hedgehog, and a dragonsaur.

"So, Thrax is after this Keyhole?" Peter asked.

"That is what Claire said to us." Replied Ando.

"Who's Thrax?" TL asked.

"He appeared a while ago." Ando replied, "He took over the city and spread an illness that killed everyone who isn't special."

"How do you define special?" D-Dude asked.

"I am the master of time and space." Replied Hiro, "And Ando is a super-charger."

Ando held out his hands and let crimson electricity flow through his hands.

"Hey, I can do that, too!" TL said, allowing his right hand to spark with red electricity, "Small world, isn't it?"

"I do what other people with powers can do." Peter continued, "And Claire can heal."

"After Thrax took over, he sent these black creatures after everyone who was. We don't know what they do to them." Ando finished.

"Shrapnel, have you seen the Keyhole?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, but I don't remember where it is." Replied Shrapnel, "C'mon, Shrapnel! You remembered the time when Barack Obama stopped at your house to use the bathroom…"

"C'mon, we've gotta know where Thrax is…" D-Dude said.

There was a burst of darkness came from a street in the distance.

"I think we have a good idea where he is." Kakashi stated.

"Hiro!" Peter said, "Get us outta here."

"Hai." Hiro replied before clenching his eyes and the group vanished.

LOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOH

The group reappeared in front of Thrax, who had a tight grip on Claire.

"Why am I not surprised?" the virus asked with a smirk, "Showin' up to find your big brother's illegit daughter?"

"CLAIRE!" Peter shouted.

"Peter!" Claire shouted.

"Lunatic!" Loon shouted. Sasuke punched the nutty ninja in the face.

Peter began rubbing the lamp behind his back as he muttered, "Shrapnel, help Claire. PLEASE!"

Shrapnel zipped out and bounced around the city before grabbing Claire and floating up.

"Wow, you're makin' this REAL easy!" the trigger-happy gunman genie said, "I'll be free in NO TIME at this rate!"

"Sorry, Petrelli, but you've just lost your third wish." Thrax smirked. Peter suddenly closed his fist on thin air.

"Sorry, boy scout." Daphne said with a smirk as she held the lamp out.

"Oh, crap!" Shrapnel swore as he vanished in a puff of dark blue smoke…leaving only Claire. The cheerleader fell through sky and landed in a pot, which suddenly sprouted gangly legs.

"See ya later, suckers." Thrax smirked, "Kill 'em!"

Thrax vanished in a flurry of darkness. In bursts of clay, a round head and a round object with a stinger emerged from pots. They joined together as five pots as spindly legs sprung out of them.

"CRAP!" Sasuke swore as he dodged a burst of electricity.

"Yeah, the writer's originality's hit rock-bottom." Lunatic stated as he pulled out his chakram and hurled them at the Pot Centipede. The two spiked wheels hit two of the pots and shattered them before burying themselves in the wall.

"I think we've got our solution…" Kakashi said as he slammed one of the pots with his shield.

"BANZAI!" TL shouted as he hurled his Keyblade to destroy another one.

Ando thrust out his hand and sent a burst of red energy to destroy another pot.

Peter clenched his fist and crushed the other pot with pure telekinetic power. D-Dude jumped at the end with a stinger…which lashed out and caught the Dragonsaur in the chest. He yelped, but held fast, even as crimson blood splattered it. Hiro then drew his katana and sliced it, clean in half.

TL then jumped at the head and drove his Keyblade through it.

"That was easy." TL said.

"Maybe it was just a decoy." Ando pointed out, pointing to where Thrax USED to be…now just empty space.

"CLAIRE!" Peter shouted. He clenched his fists and wheeled over to Hiro, "To the desert! NOW!"

"Hai." Hiro replied before clenching his eyes shut.

"Y'know, some laxatives would clear that up." Lunatic stated.

"Shut up." Sasuke said, digging his fist into Lunatic's head and driving the nutball into the ground.

LOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOH

The group reappeared outside of the mouth of a huge cave.

"Why can't we go in?" TL asked.

"Something…stopping my power…" Hiro mumbled, putting a hand to his temple.

Suddenly, a swarm of Dark Souls appeared just outside the mouth of the cave.

"CRAP! NOT AGAIN!" D-Dude swore.

"Don't worry." Ando said as he and Hiro walked ahead.

"We'll hold them off." Hiro said as he drew his katana and red electricity began sparking through Ando's hand.

"Will you be alright?" Peter asked.

"We're heroes." Hiro replied as he pushed his glasses up, "We'll be fine."

Hiro let out a loud yell as he bolted forward with Ando in hot pursuit.

"Come on, Pete!" TL said as he bolted forward and jumped over the Japanese superhumans and Dark Souls.

LOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOHLOH

Thrax and Shrapnel were inside of the cave with an unconscious Claire next to them. The virus held out the lamp and grinned his crooked teeth.

"Shrapnel, my first wish!" Thrax shouted, "Show me the Keyhole!"

Shrapnel looked over with a moody expression on his face. He held out one of his pistols and fired some magic. A large, Key shape appeared in the back of the cave.