Chapter 34

Something Wicked this way comes

'Goooood Morning, Phoenix, Arizona! Today's a fine sunny lovely morning and the weather report's looking good...'

A groan escaped underneath the covers and a hand poked from one side to silence the radio alarm clock. It was only 6:30 am but she had to be up early that day. Summer Leanne Gordon pulled the covers off of her head, sat up in her bed and yawned, albeit stretching her arms in various directions. Her sky blue eyes were dull and sleepy, her otherwise pale Irish complextion slightly blushed at her cheeks. Her golden brown shoulder-lenght hair was everywhere but that was not important as soon enough she found herself in her bathtub, taking a shower and ready to prepare for the day.

Her parents were probably still asleep and Summer did her best not to cause too much noise. She tip toed back to her room, clad only in a large white fluffly towel, and a smaller one wrapped around her dripping squeaky clean head.

Once she was back in her room, she started drying herself with only the large towel- one did not use hair driers at 7 am in the morning.

Her room was spacial, in light soft colors. A typical room for a typical 19 year old young lady. There were several posters in her room, all left from her high school year. The football team poster, the high school orchestra in which she could be seen on the medium left, holding violin. The last poster was actually an enlarged picture of her with the then set up group of the Akatsuki Fanclub, all autographs included. The bottom sign read 'Anima Con 2009'. One could see a very happy looking Yugito cosplayer in the middle of a group hug with the extravagant group of crazy teens.

Summer finnished rubbing her hair dry and was now combing it. She stopped and looked at the said poster. Her radio was turned on and it was quietly going through the news of the day.

'... so far. The police is baffled at the mysterious disappearences of cosplayers. One of the working theories at the time is that they may have fallen victims to fanatical fans. Tell me, Clara, would you risk cosplaying when such maniacs may be on the loose?...'

Summer was in the middle, being squeezed by a vivid orange clad blonde with then shoulderlenght hair. Right on top of her chest was her autograph. 'Never give up and always believe in your dreams. Your's truly, Fiffie.'

Right next to her was, of course the infamous 'bane' of all crazy Itachi fangirls, MJ Keats. 'Stay true to your yourself and your friends. Winners never quit. Quitters never win. MJK.'

Then there was the amazing L-chan, posing for the photo.'Leaders are not born. Leaders are made. But before anything else, follow your '.

'Aim with both eyes with true not loiter. Tifa M.'

'Great Cos, lady! With love, Hatorri.'

'The baby is due november. I'll consider the name, yours truly, Malena.'

'My quintessense is the Art Eternal. Don't listen to the brat. Your Danna, Akasuna no Sasori aka Sam.'

'ART IS A BANG! Kisses, Dave.'

'Swim with caution, Benjie.' ( that was the Kisame Cosplayer, a formidable man with muscles and height, LOTS of height0)

By the time Summer was ready, it was already 8 o'clock and were parents were finally up. While they were preparing to start for the day, she headed for the kitchens and made breakfast, bacon and eggs, with toast and two kinds of jam and butter at the ready next to the tea, coffee and juice. She readied the table and turned on the TV to watch the morning program. The 19 yeal old girl took a casual bite from her first jammed and buttered toast just as her parents entered the kitchen. It had always been like this. Both her parents were busy people but they always found time for each other, be it during the weekend or the weekdays. Summer was the one who usually prepared breakfast, and her mom joked that she had inherited that particular 'motherly'quirk from her grandmother. Summer always smiled at the mention of her grannie. She was a lovely old lady that always found time to come over whenever she was all by herself and they would make cookies and cakes and other delicious things to take to the local orphanage.

Another thing that Summer loved was children. Her grandmother and her visited the orphanage regularly, often once a week, bringing smile upon their chubby faces with huge, brilliant innocent eyes.

Summer also loved music. In fact, she played both the piano and the violin and she always performed whenever she could in the orphanage.

'Sunshine, honey, it's almost 9 am. You should get going if you want to get a good seat on the bus.' her mother took her out of her musings.

'Sure, mom. I'll just finish this toast and I'm going.'

'Your father will take you to the station and, what was that boy's name? Oh yeah, Harvey! Well, he called me and told me to tell you that his sister, Amellia or something, was sick and won't be able to perform for the band, so that other girl Julia will take her place. I think I remember her. Wasn't she the one you competed against last year?'

'Yes mom, it was her...'

'Are you ok with her on the team, sweety? I mean, she won and ...'

Summer smiled at her mother. She was also like her grandmother.

'Don't worry mom, we're friends. It's just a competition, my life doesn't depend on it. And we're going to have tons of fun. It will be our last, you know.'

Her mother looked at her and her expression screwed up slightly.

'Oh, honey, you are all grown up now! It was like yesterday when I was still changing your diapers! You are all out of school and will soon go out into the harsh real world.' she stood up and went over to hug her only child tightly, as if afraid she would never see her again.'Make sure to win the competition sweety! Your father and I would be very proud to have the trophy in our living room, and the reward is nice too, you could use it for your college...'

'I know, mom! I have to go now, mom! I will see you in a week!' Summer smiled at her mother and kissed her cheek. Her father was waving the keys and was standing next to an open front door. The young woman ran up to her room and took her bagpack with her things in one hand and her violin box in her other.

Summer loved music. True, she played the violin. But she played it with style and thanks to a lot of hard work and dedication. Those same qualities got her out of the orchestra and into the rock band. Yep, she was part of a rock band that did classical violin solos. Her CV for the college was filled with awesome things like that.

Her father started the engine of the car and the trip to the bus station was quiet and short.

'I know your mother asked but...'

'I'll be fine, dad, Julia is a nice person and it's all in good fun. Besides, Harvey will be there and not to mention Theo. You know how protective those two are of their 'classical violinist', you needn't worry.'

Her father snorted as she said 'classical violinist' with the same strain that death metal boy, Theodore, had said it.

Once they arrived at the bus station, which was filled with a lot of people, mostly musical young adults and their parents, Summer and her father had a short moment of saying goodbye with a hug, and then she was off to find her two death metal junkies. They were easy to find as, among the entire place, they were the only ones to stand next to a huge bus, practicing , in Harvey's case, their drum stick moves, and in Theodore's case, a livid air guitar, while both were listening to some metal-ish piece from a single I-pod with two jacks for headphones.

Summer smiled when she saw them and jogged to their position. They were too into their performance to see her and she was forced to get the I-pod from its comfortable position on top of one of the drum cases and to turn it off. The two death metal junkies immediately stopped bobbing to the music and looked around, finally spotting the golden brown haired girl with hands on her hips.

'Sunshine! Hail, Priestess of the Moonlight Sonata!' Theodore exclaimed passionately at the sight of the girl, and fell on one knee in front of her, arms wide spread in a 'I am yours to command motion'.

'Theo, get off the ground, its dirty and those pants are new.' she lightly scoulded the young man with spiky black hair with silver tipped spikes. He pouted childishly, his eyes looking up at her, revealing his black rimmed with gold dust Dior decorative lens.

'Up, now.'

'Yes, mother dearest.' He sighed dramatically and stood up, sitting back on his spot. Summer then eyed the dirty knee spot and started dusting it, really reminding a mother. At least Theodore's parents didn't have to worry about him having dirty laundry for a week. Summer was there to remind him. Literaly.

'Did you get clean underwear? I don't want to repeat last year's super amazing mall run for clothes.'She finally asked, looking him up and down, inspecting for any dirty spots. He was not a dirty person but he tended to forget essencial stuff easily, especially when his drums were concerned.

'My mom packed me some fresh laundry and told me to, quote unquote 'marry the girl before some fine businessman sweeps her off her feet with luxury and VIP concert spots'.'

'Dude, your mom is weird.' Harvey commented, while eyeing one of his zipper trinkets on his crazy black pockety pants.

'Well, your mom is weirder.'

'She can't help it dude! She's French!'

'Come on now, boys, no fighting. We're here to have fun, not to discuss our mothers.'

'Yes, mother dearest.' the two chanted in unison and then smiled innocently at Summer. They looked ridiculous and she couldn't help but sigh helplessly. Boys will be boys.

'Where's Julia, anyway? She said she'll be here in...' Theo started.

'Sorry, for almost being late guys and girl! I was finishing the final touches of my make up.' A blonde skinny girl in shiny, new fashion clothes, tapped(read jogged with her ultra high... high heels) over to them.

'I'm happy you made it in time, Julia. I was about to phone you.'

The prep girl smiled at summer and then started rummaging through her purse for lip gloss.

'Uhm, Julia, you do know we will be in a bus for 7 hours straight?'

'That doesn't mean I won't look my best!'

If Summer could, she would have anime sweat dropped. Julia was the most preppy person she was in contact and appart from her naturally whiny, preppy, bitchy attitude, her heart was in the right place, well, most of the time.

And there they were, 4 people having absolutely nothing to do with each other save for their once upon a time membership in their high school orchestra. Death Metal, Old School Rock, Classical and Pop, all in one. They called themselves the Sound Four. Summer had suggested it, and since the rest hadn't really watched Naruto THAT much, (save for the Chuunin exams, but everyone and their mother had watched it at this point), well, they accepted the name. Of course, Amellia, their usual singer, was best friends forever with Julia, who had quit singing for a while in the pursuit of a suitable football star to marry (don't ask). Anyway, Julia had graciously accepted to join their band when Amellia fell ill. It was good to be prepared and have back ups. It was Summer's idea to have Julia prepare with them for the super awesome band competition, just in case.

Preparedness had paid off.

LINELINELINE

The luxurious bus, provided by the company doing the competition, was big and luxurious. But it was only one, and the competitors were in for a tight fit. Only the air of excitement and the occasional choir of a very famous song, was what kept the aspiring musical virtuosos from killing...er...eliminating...ahem...well, from beating each other into a pulp, like a literally bloody preliminary.

The air conditioning was working full throttle, and Theo was using Summer happily as a pillow for his beauty sleep. Harvey was playing on his Nintendo, and Julia was typing short messages on her Black Berry with equal speeds.

Summer smiled as she looked at her band. So different and yet united under the same banner of music. She felt herself doze off as well, the repetetive scenery they passed by getting her as well. She dully wondered for a moment what had happened to the missing cosplayers. And the next thing she knew was the blissfull darkness of sleep.

LINELINELINE

The sudden crash awoke all of the inhabitants in the otherwise spacious appartment where Sam lived. It was too late however and every single one of them was surrounded by what seemed to be masked men in black, guns pointed at them. Sam thought she was dreaming at first, until she was brought by the two people around her bed to the living room, where all of her guests were gathered in the same manner. Marco, Peter and Leo were restrained with handcuffs, while Kate and Malena were trying to calm two very distressed toddlers.

'What the hell is going on?' Sam finally spoke after taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down. PEOPLE HAD BROKEN INTO HER HOUSE! Were those the kidnappers?

'Don't we all want to know, Miss Taylor?'

The young woman swiftly turned around to face a tall man past his prime. Leopold's eyes widened when he recognized those brilliant azure eyes.

'W-who are you?' Samantha dared to ask.

The man whoever did not answer and instead looked about the room.

'Release the men, I'm sure they would not cause trouble.'he said and then turned back to Samantha.'No need to worry, Miss Taylor. We are not the kidnappers but it took me quite the resources and contacts to get a grasp of these fine people's location. No, We're not CIA or FBI or KGB or whatever. In fact, we don't even exist officially. We haven't existed since the end of WWII.'

'You're Fiona's grandfather, aren't you?' Leo spoke, his voice ice cold, devoid of all emotion.

'Jonathan Johnson Sr at your service' the man smiled and mock bowed.'Why haven't you released them yet? Chop chop!'

Soon enough, the only people in the room was Fiona's Grandfather and the cosplayers,including two very asleep toddlers and one very bemused Sam Taylor- Narsilion.

'I always thought that Fia had some super spy or evil genius ancestors but this is ridiculous.' Light stated sarcastically, while Lilly-Anne Philips nodded in agreement, while fixing her hair.

'So, tell me what you know. I am sure we all want to find our sweet darlings as soon as possible and before your dear sweet Cosplay associations are ruined thanks to slightly abusing the Internet.' J.J. Sr's voice went from cheerful to freezing cold serious in the same manner Fia would occasionally speak when very annoyed or angry. Light mentally shivvered as the thought occured to him.

'We're not telling you anything.' Lilly Anne spoke with a superiority note in her voice. 'For all I know you could be a bloody impersonator of Fiona's grandfather, or,which would be even worse- Fiona's actual grandfather, who is trying to gain something from this entire ordeal, with us being used as scape goats.'

The cold, viscious smile on his face made them all tense and deathly silent.

'This would be the only time I would let such a horrible comment slip by. The next time anyone of you says anything so derogatory, while addressing my loyalty to my family, I will personally kill you all without even blinking. Is that clear? Good.'

'Don't worry, Lilly, he is Fia's grandfather. No one can pull off a Johnson Threat like a real Johnson.'

'Gee, Raito, and how would you know, hmm?' Peter asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

'I've had a talk with Fia's father some time ago. He had said something of the same calliber.' the red head answered lightly, earning both himself, and Grandpa JJ weird stares.

'I heard you had a nice brain packed on top of your shoulders, boy. Want to earn some Johnson credits? Help me find my baby. Can't have my only precious princess of a granddaughter go missing without a trace, now can we?'

'No sir.'

'So, did you pick this team or you picked yourselves?' The old man asked, while looking around. He gradually raised one eyebrow, while bearing the Johnson trademark dull expression that screamed 'FAIL'. Leo had seen it numerous times when Fia commented the cheerleading team.'Two young married couples, going on missions PREGNANT and with their TODDLERS, a high school soon to be graduating future Grandson-in-Law, a booby chicka with an attitude...I don't know what you two are supposed to be (he addressed the Amedara and the Hakushi cosplayers, who, by the way, had been planning to leave the previous afternoon but had unfortunately decided to stay a bit more). Seriously, boy, If you want to join the Johnson crew, you need to learn how to pick a team.'

'I suggest never to underestimate one's carefully chosen crew.'Benjamin spoke for the first time. For being a whole head taller than the man mountain JJ Sr, Bennie sure knew how to become invisible in plain sight.

'Speaking like a true Legionnaire.' JJ Sr smiled at the man, not at all intimidated by him.'But you are right. Go back to sleep. I will send cars tomorrow to get you. We are going to go to the official HQ of this operation, Codename:'Princess Bride' and we will discuss further actions there. Go to bed and try to sleep. Miss Taylor, you will be conpensated for any trouble we or they have caused you. Good morning.'

And with that the man turned to leave, with a room full of shocked into silence young adults.

'I think it is a good idea to pack.' Lilly deadpanned.

Edward and Karl looked at each other...err, the Amedara and Hakushi cosplayers... and then the doctor, Karl, stated clearly.

'We only agreed to help you get to Narsilion. We're outta here.' With that the two turned to leave.

'Just so you know, forget this ever happened. We're probably being watched from every angle as we speak, so pack up and go. Take the Battle Cruiser ( he meant the Nissan they came with). We'll get personal rides tomorrow.' Leo then stood up and stretched and headed back to the room he shared with Peter and Marco to sleep. There were too few rooms to have the couples sleep in one room so they agreed to split by genders. The kids were with the women.

As the entire thing went over yet again in Lilly's mind, she could not help but think about how one's true qualities showed up in situations like this one. She didn't blame Eddie and Karl, they did not know the missing people that well. Hell, even she didn't, but she was a leader of one of the Fanclubs and it was her duty. And her head would fall anyways if she did not do anything.

'Alright. I suggest we pack up now and then get sleep. It'll be a busy few days. Taylor, sorry for the trouble, but this is life. Thank you for your hospitality.' Sam nodded at Lilly.

With that, they all went to pack. Peter smacked Light awake, but that was a slightly irrelevant bit of information.

LINELINELINE

True to JJ Sr's word, three spacious black cars that screamed 'goverment' were parked outside, waiting for the group to leave. Everything was wrapped up quickly and soon enough all three cars were driving their way to an unknown for the group location. The men in black did not speak. There were three of them, the driver and a body guard at the front, and one body guard at the back in each car. The body guards were armed with automatic arms that made weapon specialist like Benjie, bless his kind, paladinish heart, green with envy.

Marco, Malena and their kids were in one car, Benjamin,Light and Lilly were in the next, and Peter and Kate were in the last vehicle.

There was nothing to talk about during the trip.

But it was to be short lived.

The first car in the row of three suddenly screeched to an uneasy stop, while the two behind her tried to avoid crashing into it. When everything calmed down, the body guards exited the vehicles, their wards were gone. All they remembered being unusual was the sudden flash of light, the sudden lack of weight in the cars that nearly rolled them over at their speeds.

'Sir!' one of the men called HQ.'They...they just disappeared...'

'What? Hodgekins, are you sure?'

'Positive. There was a bright flash of light and that's it...'

'Where did we go wrong? God have mercy on our souls...' JJ Sr mumbled.

'What was that sir?'

'We failed them, and we failed ourselves. Search the area for anything suspicious and then come to HQ as fast as possible' stated an eerily grave sounding Jonathan Johnson Senior.'We've failed...'

A/N: and here is the long awaited chapter for the new arc! Every beginning is hard and I want to thank all my reviewers and fans and readers for their support. Without you, I doubt I would have had the strenght to write this all the way through the Pilot Arc. It was a long and tedious journey through the years, especially with all the plotting and research I had to do and I believe I finally managed to find the successful formula for this project.

Also, I want to say Happy Birthday! To SilverMononoke, who was one of the people whose support I appreciated the most. This chapter is specifically dedicated to her as this day, Friday, August 13th is her 18th birthday. Its a milestone in life even though you wont feel the difference at first! I wish you all the happiness and love in the world and I'm crossing my fingers for you to do well in whatever exams you have in front of you and I hope you've set sights on a path for your life. It is in these years of your life that you will shape it and it is exceptionally important for you to understand this fact.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as it sets the beginning of a very interesting Arc. Something Wicked this way comes, even if you may not see it yet. Mysteries will unravel soon enouh, so don't keep your knickers in a twist or whatever!