The Overtakers reconvened in their meeting room, armed now with the magic ink and the name of the Author. Hades presented Maleficent with the ink, and Fish was called up on the elevated platform to convey to the entire group what her expedition had learned.
"When we spoke to the cricket, he was honestly oblivious to any Author," Fish explained, "but he did give us a valuable hint. His journal came into contact with a witch named Naminé, the other half of Sora's friend Kairi. I believe that Naminé is indeed the Author that we're looking for."
"An impressive deduction," a raspy voice said from behind the crowd of Overtakers.
Maleficent squinted her eyes in frustration as she saw Xehanort, flanked by twelve hooded figures, parting her crowd to approach the stage. He was, as ever, slouching with his hands held behind his back.
"Xehanort," Maleficent hissed.
"Quite a glittering assemblage here, Maleficent," Xehanort said with a smirk.
Hook immediately recognized the power emanating from the old man and his disciples. It was a curse he knew all too well.
"He's the bloody Dark One," Hook spat.
"That I am," Xehanort said without turning his head. "We all are, in fact. So the good captain can indeed verify that the vampire about to attack me would be wasting his time."
Maleficent turned to see Russell preparing to lunge and gestured for him to stand down. The vampire obeyed, albeit not happily.
"So nice to see this castle rebuilt," Xehanort said. "It was in such a dismal state when last I set eyes upon it."
"A state you caused," Maleficent growled.
"A rash action, I will admit," Xehanort said, "but not an unwarranted one. Tell me, o' mistress of evil, have I stood in your way or opposed you at all since that fateful day?"
"You stole the World's Data and the Dark One powers," Maleficent answered.
"You overlook the nuance of the question," Xehanort replied. "I have not directly confronted your Overtakers or stood in your way at all until this day. I had hoped you would take the time to appreciate the generosity that I afforded you that the likes of Mephisto and Hecate did not."
"Got a point there, baldy?" Hades chimed in.
"I would not have spoken if I did not," Xehanort stated, never breaking eye contact with Maleficent. "Your Overtakers are of little concern to me. Make your grab for power. Expand your ranks. I care not. It holds no consequence to my machinations. But what I cannot abide is your seeking to create a Book of Prophecies. You did not heed Yen Sid's warning, but you will heed mine."
"Is that so?" Maleficent sneered.
"It is," Xehanort said. "I see your Overtakers number at sixteen, though I'd wager that's a generous count and that some here are but minions. All with varied abilities and conflicting allegiances. I'd be willing bet most of them are even now plotting to betray their brethren. My Organization, however, consists of thirteen powerful immortal members all united by the singular desires of my own heart. That is to say nothing of my army of Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed. We could wipe out your Overtakers easily, but I'm offering to spare you all and allow you to continue to pursue your conquests. All you must do is forget your desires for the Book of Prophecies.
"The ink and the pen are yours to keep. They are useless as they are now without the hand to guide them. To some, that hand is the Foreteller. To others, the Prophet. To you, I gather, it is the Author. The position is the same. So let me make myself explicitly clear. If you pursue the Author, and I will know if you do, I will exterminate your Overtakers and prevent further resurrections. This is not a threat. It is simply what will come to pass. Content yourself with conquering worlds in your own manner, but leave the book alone."
With his warning issued, Xehanort and his twelve other selves vanished into Corridors of Darkness, leaving the Overtakers to contemplate what had just transpired.
"I don't take kindly to being threatened out of my plans," Russell said.
"We should at least discuss this," Fish suggested.
"What's to discuss?" Hook asked. "He's the bloody Dark One! If we don't find his dagger, we're all dead. We need to save our own necks."
"Oh, what a brave pirate you are," Cruella said. "Must be nice not to have a vital piece of you missing and the only hope of regaining it being the book."
"Oh, I don't have a piece missing?" Hook said, holding up his hook and waving it at Cruella.
"I already have the only book I need anyway," Winnie chimed in.
"I'm not standing down because some bald geezer told me to," Blackheart said. "I will rip out his entrails and scatter them across galaxies. Then we'll see who's really immortal."
"I concur with the demon," Doom nodded. "Immortals are only invincible until you prove that they are not."
"But why waste our time?" Jafar asked. "Surely there are other routes to power that are more direct."
"Why are we treating this as if there were only two potential answers?" Loki asked. "Am I the only one with an understanding of how to circumvent an obstacle?"
"The Book of Prophecies is ours by right," Grimhilde said plainly. "All who deny that are our enemies."
"Good luck gettin' Xehanort to see it that way," Ursula said. "Though, really, I wanna know more about this Yen Sid warning."
"I think you all are missin' one teensy-weensy but ever so crucial little tiny detail: it's NOT your call," Hades said. "It's Malef's."
"The promise of the Overtakers was cooperation, not enslavement," Doom growled.
"Yeah, Doc, cool story," Hades replied. "But we need to-"
"ENOUGH!" Maleficent said, causing the entire room to go silent. "I have no desire to bow to Xehanort's demands. However, we are currently not in a position to strike against him. Xehanort spoke the truth: his forces number at thirteen powerful dark sorcerers and an immense army of dark creatures. Though many of you have skillful minds and devious ambitions, you would be woefully unprepared for a battle with one of Organization XIII."
The whole room cringed at that. While some, such as Doom and Loki, felt confident in their abilities to fight against Xehanort, others, such as Fish Mooney and Cruella De Vil, knew that they would be on the losing end of a battle on that level.
"If we are to defeat him, we will need reinforcements," Maleficent continued. "Gather whatever allies you can from your home worlds. Surely, there are some who would join our cause. Bring them here, and perhaps we can muster a force strong enough to strike Xehanort down. Now go! And do not fail me!"
Back on Midgard, the home world of Doctor Doom, Norman Osborn was hard at work in his office at Thunderbolts Mountain. Following the Superhuman Civil War and the debacle involving nanite controlled supervillains, the American government and S.H.I.E.L.D. found themselves knee-deep in lawsuits and a lot of very pissed off human rights protesters. Yet, with Prison 42 no longer operational, the various super-max prisons in need of major improvements to accommodate the evolving threat of supervillains, and the legal supervillain conscription act which allowed for the nanite program in the first place still in play, S.H.I.E.L.D. was practically dumping every new supervillain they captured off on the Thunderbolts for "rehabilitation."
Norman Osborn didn't truly believe for one second that forcing supervillains to use their powers for the United States government was actually reforming anyone, but he played it off nicely for the cameras. After all, a damn good lawyer and a few crucial favors in Washington earned Osborn the cushy position as Director of the Thunderbolts, and a position with real political authority beat a padded cell any day of the week. If smiling for the cameras and spewing nonsense about good honest American values was what it took to keep him there, he'd happily oblige. After all, Director Tony Stark of S.H.I.E.L.D. was fallible, and it would only be a matter of time before they needed someone new to fill those shoes.
"Norman Osborn," Doctor Doom said as he and Loki teleported into the office.
Osborn practically fell out of his chair at the sight of Doom and Loki, but he quickly steadied himself. After all, Doom may have been a dangerous sociopath, but Osborn was the Green Goblin. Doom's presence also meant one critical thing: Nick Fury lied about Doom's death. Most interesting...
"Doctor Doom," Osborn said. "And Loki too. To what do I owe the honor of meeting with two men who are supposed to be dead?"
"Doom shall cut right to the chase," Doom said. "We are conducting a critical siege upon an enemy world, and we require allies to aid in the coming battle."
"We were so hoping the Green Goblin might come out to play," Loki said as he sat on Osborn's desk.
"I'm keeping a lid on the Goblin for now," Osborn said. "I have a lot of power ahead of me just waiting for the taking as long as I can play nice and smile for the cameras. But you know I'm always an ally to both of you, and, as a show of good faith, I can get you some cannon fodder."
"Go on," Doom said.
"Being the Director of the Thunderbolts has many perks," Osborn said. "The authority to conscript supervillains for black op missions being one of them. And it just so happens that S.H.I.E.L.D. just released the Sinister Six... er... Sinister Five into my custody. I believe you worked with some of them before in your Masters of Evil. They won't be missed if I just say I've sent them on a top secret mission to Asgard."
"Why only five?" Loki asked, filled with a strange desk ornament. "What happened to the Sinister Sixth?"
"Doctor Octopus is ridiculously talented at evading arrest," Osborn explained. "But the others are tough. Make no mistake about that. You'll have no complaints."
"How soon can they be given to us?" Doom asked.
"I can release them into your custody tonight," Osborn said.
"I do so hate not having a full set," Loki bemoaned. "If they're the Sinister Six, then we should have six of them."
"Well, the M.R.D. has been tracking a mutant serial killer last seen around New Orleans," Osborn added. "He was able to beat the Hell out of Wolverine. If you're interested, I can get you the data we have on him."
"I would like that, yes," Loki agreed. "Doom, you stay and finalize our Sinister Five. I'll find the mutant."
"Just try to be inconspicuous," Osborn said. "I don't want the press knowing that I helped out Doctor Doom and the God of Chaos."
"It's God of Mischief or God of Evil, actually," Loki corrected. "I answer to both."
Hades arrived in the Underdrome where Zorg, Pain, and Panic were there already waiting.
"You adjustin' to the new gig, Zorgy?" Hades asked.
"I'm as snug as a bug in this job," Zorg replied with a smile. "We got your text and put in a call to some friends of yours."
Zorg gestured out into the coliseum arena where six monsters stood waiting: the many headed Hydra, the half-bull man Minotaur, the invincible Nemean Lion, the venomous snake man Doubt, the crimson humanoid dragon Memnon, the three headed Hellhound Cerberus, and in the center was the mother of all of monsters herself, Echidna. Echidna smiled, showing off her monstrous fangs, as Hades grew tall enough and large enough to give her a big hug.
"Oh Hades!" she said. "It's been way too long!"
"Echidna, babe, you haven't aged a day!" Hades said. "Look at you, you look like you could eat a city state!"
"Oh stop that, you," Echidna said, enjoying the flattery. "Zorg told us there'd be a family bonding activity in it for us?"
Hades smiled devilishly. "How do you fine monsters feel about eating some Heartless?"
In Gotham City, Professor Hugo Strange was holed up in the Cobblepot mansion, contemplating what the best DNA would be to revive Edward Nygma and Lee Thompkins. He did so enjoy this part. It was almost like art resurrecting people with new DNA.
"Hugo, what an unexpected surprise," Fish said as she entered the room.
Strange gasped as if he'd seen a ghost and stumbled, knocking operating equipment off his work bench.
"Ms. Mooney," Strange said. "But... I saw you perish right before my eyes."
"Didn't take," Fish replied. "Where's Oswald? I need his help to-"
That was when a figure lying on a futon caught her eye. Fish immediately darted over to look upon the dead face of Butch Gilzean, her former second-in-command and best friend. She ran her nails mournfully across Butch's cheek.
"What happened to him?" Fish asked.
"Ah, well, you see," Strange began, "Mr. Gilzean was shot dead by Barbara Kean, but his corpse was dumped in Gotham's swamps along with run off chemicals from Indian Hill. He came back all on his own, but he desired a cure for his deformities. At Mr. Cobblepot's behest, I provided that cure, but Mr. Cobblepot, hoping to get revenge on Tabitha Galavan, proceeded to shoot Mr. Gilzean dead once again."
"Oswald did this?" Fish asked, venom in her voice. "He killed Butch in cold blood?"
"Yes, but there is a... complication," Strange said. "While I purged Mr. Gilzean's systems of the chemicals that mutated him, I believe they may have permanently altered his DNA. He's been healing rapidly, and I believe he will wake again very soon. I believe he may effectively be immortal."
"If Oswald knew, he'd torture Butch over and over to make Tabitha suffer," Fish said with a sigh. "He can't know. It's better for everyone if Butch and I both stay dead."
Fish stood up and crossed over to Strange. Before he had time to react, she grabbed his hand and injected her toxin.
"You are going to let me take Butch," Fish ordered. "You will tell Penguin that you buried his body, and you will not breathe a word of my survival to anyone. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Strange said with a nod.
Fish walked back over to Butch, who was beginning to stir. She took his hand into her own and whisked them both away into a Corridor of Darkness.
An awkward silence hung over the group seated around the dining room table of Hell Hall, the Old De Vil place. Pawn broker and local fence Madame Medusa and her associate Mr. Snoops sat at one end of the table, and poacher Percival C. McLeach and his pet monitor lizard Joanna sat at the other. In between them sat two local hoodlum brothers named Horace and Jasper Badun as well as a pair of con men named Doc Terminus and Hoagy. This particular gang of crooks hadn't seen each other in years and most of them stuck to their own illicit activities. Yet when they all received an invitation to return to their old stomping ground, all attended, curious as to who invited them.
"You don't think this is a trap by the cops, do ya, Jasper?" Horace whispered to his brother.
"Horace, you idiot, shut up," Jasper growled.
"If it were the cops, they'd've busted us by now," McLeach said. "Besides, ain't nothin' illegal about a few friends meetin' up again."
"Friends? Is that what we're calling ourselves now?" Medusa asked. "HA! Well, I suppose it's true what they say about true friends being the ones who know where the bodies are buried."
"Well I for one have much better things to do than sit here and stare at all of your lovely faces," Terminus said with a sigh. "If whoever invited us back here doesn't show their face soon, Hoagy and I are leaving."
"You always were one to dine and dash, Terminus," Cruella said as she strutted into the room, a cloud of cigarette smoke following her.
"Well, well, look who's back," McLeach laughed.
"Is that really Cruella?" Snoops asked.
"Of course it's her, you IDIOT!" Medusa said, slapping the back of Snoops' head. "Been a long time, Cruella, dear. How was that Enchanted Forest realm you went to visit?"
Cruella shuddered. "Filled with dirt and things that smelled like dirt. But it proved most helpful in the long run. I made a few new friends, and we were looking for some people to join the fun. I immediately thought of all of you."
"Well that's sweet of you," Hoagy said with a smile.
"She needs someone to do her dirty work, as usual," Jasper huffed.
"Oh darlings, trust me on this one," Cruella said. "You'll want to get in on this deal. It's going to mean money, money, money by the pound!"
The crew of criminals gave each other a look. They all seemed interested by Cruella's proposition, especially as of the promise of money.
"Alright, start talkin'," McLeach said.
"SMASHING!" Cruella declared happily. "I'm quite excited for... oh, what was it the conservation nutjobs called us again? Oh wait, I remember! Yes, it's high time for the Animal Cruelty Squad to ride again!"
"You sure this'll work?" Steve asked.
"I am," Grimhilde nodded. "This spell has been done before in a town called Briarwood. With the Flytrap monster I created filled with your blood, we'll have our soldiers."
"And they won't remember any of this when they're done?" Steve asked.
"The survivors won't, at least," Grimhilde said.
The two Overtakers strolled out into the Fellowship Hall where the congregation of the Midnight Fellowship was enjoying their party. Many invited friends and family to join in on this occasion. DJ Fly knew how to work the room and get everyone into hypnotic movement. Once all were captivated by the spell, DJ Fly returned to his true form: that of a Flytrap monster that resembled a hybrid of leech and Venus flytrap plant.
The Flytrap sprouted at least fifty tendrils that then weaved through the crowd, leeching onto the various dancers. The change was instant. The Midnight Fellowship, cursed by the Flytrap and Steve's blood, became a crowd of vampires.
"Just as I told you," Grimhilde said.
"Russell went back for his wolf pack," Steve said. "With them and these baby vampires, I think we've got a good chance."
On the shores near Atlantica, Ursula sat in the shallows as her sister Morgana and the ancient Evil Manta rose from the depths. Out of everyone in Atlantica, those two were the only ones powerful enough and talented enough to aid in Maleficent's cause.
"Ursula, long time no see," Morgana said. "You don't visit. You don't write. A sister could feel unwanted. Not that I'm not used to it already. Mother was plenty good at that."
"Morgana, angelfish," Ursula said. "Do me a favor and shut your crab trap for a minute."
The Evil Manta chuckled at that. Morgana gritted her teeth but didn't argue further.
"Now then," Ursula continued. "My dear friend Maleficent is plotting to take down a powerful enemy, but she needs a little extra help. The risk is high, but the spoils well worth it! And you two were the only ones I knew I could count on back home."
"What makes you think you can count on us?" Morgana spat.
"You can count on me at least," the Evil Manta said with a chuckle. "After all, I relish the opportunity to work with the Mistress of All EEEEEVIIILLLLL."
"Well I'm not on board so easily!" Morgana said, holding firm. "What? Am I supposed to just go along out of sisterly love?"
"Oh Morgana, dear sweet Morgana," Ursula said. "Of course this is a voluntary mission. If you don't want in, then who am I to force you? Though, did I mention we have the Lord of the Underworld on our side? I'd hate for some ill fate to befall you, sister, and then for Hades to hold a grudge that resulted in you having a most unpleasant afterlife. But if you really don't want to help..."
"Fine," Morgana relinquished. "What'll you have us do?"
Ursula smiled wickedly.
A roadhouse bar on the outskirts of New Orleans was hardly the most elegant place Loki had stopped for a drink, but it would do nicely to put him in contact with the wayward mutant Osborn put him on the trail of. The place was clear of any other customers at least. That made it ideal for such dealings. Loki dressed in his casual suit that he wore out to the Iceberg Lounge and sat in a booth far from the door. Loki ran his finger along the inside of his mug of untouched beer when he noticed a traveler in worn clothes enter the roadhouse. The traveler wore sunglasses and a cowboy hat, but those could not fully hide his Mohawk or distinctly Asian features.
"Daken Akihiro!" Loki called out, waving for the traveler to join him at his booth. "I am Loki, God of Mischief. Do not fear; you're in no trouble from me. Please, come sit."
Daken removed his sunglasses and strolled over to the booth. "How did you know I'd be here?"
"You ask a god how he knows anything?" Loki replied with a smirk. "He knows because he does."
"Are you the reason I'm here?" Daken asked, sliding into the seat across from Loki.
The God of Mischief gave a knowing smile that answered Daken's suspicions. Loki had, in fact, placed a few "detours" in Daken's path to lead him to this particular roadhouse once he located the mutant.
"So what job do the gods have for me?" Daken asked.
"A man with the strength to do battle with Wolverine wishes to know about a job," Loki chuckled.
"That is between my father and me," Daken growled.
A fiendish smile cracked onto Loki's lips. What a delicious twist of fate. Perhaps this one would be more than a simple henchman for cannon fodder.
"A story I know well," Loki said. "I can see in your eyes that you've heard the tale before of a father by blood who abandoned his son and a father by war who used his son as a tool for his own designs. Each more disappointing than the last; both better left forgotten. Ever the outsider, ever the bastard, ever the monster."
"Am I supposed to get all teary eyed because we have similar stories?" Daken asked with a scoff. "And am I supposed to suddenly believe that the God of Mischief is telling the whole truth and rally to his side? I'm not a fool. So, I'll ask again: what do you want me to do?"
Daken's reply made Loki all the more convinced that he'd made the right decision tracking down this man. Daken had intelligence as well as strength. This was a young man worthy of being considered an ally of Loki. The God of Mischief did so hope that Xehanort wouldn't destroy him.
"Well," Loki began, "leading a team of fools into glorious combat as a start."
The prison transport truck pulled into the large empty garage area where Osborn and Doom stood together side by side. The driver put the vehicle in park and hopped out to unload the cargo.
"Here's the keys, Mr. Osborn," the agent said. "They've all been briefed about the situation. I still can't believe that Doctor Doom has been alive all this time. Makes you wonder what else Stark has lied to us about."
"I know, Joel," Osborn replied. "It shocked me when I found out too. But you must understand, no one can know about Doom."
"You don't have to worry, sir," Joel said. "I ain't told nobody."
"Good," Osborn said, pulling out a pistol and shooting Joel right between the eyes.
Osborn wiped the blood splatter off his cheek and activated the release mechanism on the truck. The iron door opened to reveal a collection of Spider-Man's deadliest foes waiting inside. One by one, they hopped out of the truck. The first was a young man in his twenties, sporting a shaved head and a yellow and green ensemble with copper wires connecting mechanical apparatuses: Max "Electro" Dillon. The second was an elderly man dressed in green body armor with large metal wings attached: Adrian "The Vulture" Toomes. Next out of the truck was a man in a blue and green metallic suit with a large tail and stinger protruding from his back: Mac "The Scorpion" Gargan. The final figure to step out of the truck was a tall, muscular man covered in a thick hide-like armor resembling that of a rhinoceros: Aleksei "The Rhino" Sytsevich.
"Doctor Doom!" Rhino gasped. "We thought you was dead!"
"Stupid!" Electro scoffed. "It obviously had to have been just another Doombot. Doctor Doom doesn't just die."
"I am very much alive," Doom confirmed.
Scorpion looked longingly at the fresh corpse splattered on the ground. "Oh how I miss the Venom symbiote. He would've loved that snack, but corpses don't agree with my constitution without him."
"Won't you ever shut up about the symbiote, Gargan?" Vulture asked with a sigh. "It left you behind because you're a moron. Now get over it!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" Osborn said. "Why are there only four of you? There's supposed to be five!"
The four supervillains groaned.
"He was waiting for you to say that," Electro grumbled.
In a dramatic plume of smoke, a fifth figure appeared sporting a green and gold body suit with a flowing purple cape and, most notable, a foggy glass helmet resembling a fish bowl. Quentin "Mysterio" Beck twirled his cape in a grandiose manner and gave a coy little bow.
"BEHOLD! I, the Great Mysterio, have arrived!" Mysterio declared. "Ready to make my grand debut in this intriguing drama of twists and turns that you've laid before me, dear Doctor Doom."
"Doom remembers this one well," Doom said.
"No doubt my grand theatrics have impressed you, O' great one!" Mysterio boasted.
"You were the one who failed to acquire the Ultron schematics from the Omega Base," Doom said.
Mysterio was silent for a moment before speaking back up. "...Technically Scorpion and Rhino failed you too. Twice each!"
"HEY!" the two aforementioned supervillains shouted.
"Which is precisely why none of you will be responsible for any tasks requiring intelligent thought," Doom explained.
"Yeah, that's right!" Electro spoke up. "Doctor D wants somebody with real spark to lead this mission!"
"Only if he wanted you to brashly lead us headlong towards our deaths," Vulture said. "Obviously, he's thinking of someone with the wisdom of experience to lead."
"Actually, neither of you will be leading this team," Doom said.
A Corridor of Darkness opened next to Doom and from it, Loki and Daken emerged. Daken gave the Sinister Five a once over and grinned devilishly.
"I think I can work with them," Daken said.
"They are at your command," Loki said. "Not the brightest group of henchmen, but one that will do nicely."
"Mysterio does not subject his art to the instruction of such neophytes!" Mysterio declared.
"Indeed," Vulture echoed. "The Sinister Six operates on a seniority basis. Doctor Octopus would not stand for such an insult to the way things are done!"
"And how often has 'the way things are done' actually worked for you?" Daken asked. "Go on, I'll wait."
Vulture and Mysterio grumbled but backed down.
"Do feel free to kill anyone who doesn't want to cooperate," Loki said to Daken with a smirk.
Scorpion laughed. "Okay, I like this guy."
"So, uh, what are we doin'?" Rhino asked
Doom and Loki shared a look before Doom answered. "Shaping the course of destiny itself."
Butch sat up from the futon in Villain's Vale and shook his head to reorient himself. Butch looked down at his pale gray hands and arms. He didn't need a mirror to tell him that his face was the same color or that his hair had turned stark white again. He was still Solomon Grundy. Upon seeing that Butch was finally awake, Fish rushed to his side.
"Don't strain yourself, baby," Fish said, laying a friendly hand on his shoulder.
"Fish? That you?" Butch asked. "Am I... dead?"
"Not exactly," Fish said. "How much do you remember?"
Butch rubbed his temples and groaned. "I remember goin' down on Strange's operating table, and then being normal again... and Tabby was there... and then... PENGUIN! THAT LITTLE RAT! I'LL RIP HIS FUCKING HEAD OFF!"
"And what'll that accomplish?" Fish asked. "You can't die, and Penguin always survives."
"That written in stone?" Butch asked. "Guess I'll just have to keep hitting him until all of his bones shatter."
"How many times have you and he done this?" Fish asked. "Friends to enemies to friends again to enemies again? Don't you see? You're trapped in unending cycle. The only way it breaks is if you finally say enough is enough."
"Give up?" Butch asked. "After what he did to me and Tabby? Would you have given up, Fish?"
"I'd have found a new reason to live and not wasted my second chance on old rivalries that got me killed in the first place," Fish answered.
"You're just sayin' that 'cause you're sweet on the kid now," Butch growled. "He's not your only legacy in Gotham, Fish!"
"No, I'm saying it because I care for you deeply, Butch," Fish replied. "Always have. Out of all of Gotham, you and I were the only two people who were always good to each other. You trusted me before. Trust me now."
Butch said nothing and refused to meet Fish's eye. "But... what about Tabby?"
"I know you loved her," Fish said with a sympathetic pat. "But she's already right back in Barbara Kean's arms. Let her mourn you and move on. It's the only compassionate thing you can do now. You'll find love again too."
Butch let out a deep sigh and took a moment to think about it. "Maybe... maybe it is better if I just stay dead to Gotham. But if Butch Gilzean is dead then Butch Gilzean needs to die. From now on, I'm just... Solomon Grundy."
"It'll get easier with time," Fish assured him.
"So, uh, what is this place?" Butch, or rather, Solomon Grundy asked.
Fish just laughed at that. "That, my friend, is a long story."
Maleficent stood on the stage in the courtyard, looking out at the expanded forces now at her beck and call. She glanced over the entire crowd to identify all who came to her aid.
The Banshee and several other fairies from Avalon stood up front, ready to serve at their queen's behest.
Behind them, Ursula and Fish Mooney stood with Solomon Grundy, the Evil Manta (who was floating in mid air rather than standing), and Ursula's sister Morgana. Flotsam and Jetsam swam through the air behind them.
Jafar, not being particularly well liked in Agrabah, had only managed to recruit a small band of thieves. He stood off to the side with Hook, Hans, and the crew of the Jolly Roger.
Cruella's efforts bore considerable fruit. She stood in the middle, gossiping with Medusa, McLeach, Doc Terminus, Horace, Jasper, Snoops, and Hoagy. Though all were mortals, they each brought a unique flavor to the team.
Steve, Russell, and Grimhilde stood amongst a crowd of the Midnight Fellowship who had been imbued with vampiric abilities. Standing at attention around the vampires was Russell's pack of werewolves.
Doom and Loki were flanked by the new Sinister Six, all six powerful and itching for a fight. Electro, Mysterio, and Vulture were chatting together while Rhino and Scorpion were trying to avoid looking at each other. Daken, meanwhile, was deep in conversation with Doom and Loki, and Maleficent could tell simply by his proximity to the other two that this was a man who was fit for the main Overtakers.
Blackheart and the Sanderson Sisters stood together with a handful of demons. The sisters were, by all accounts, Blackheart's contribution to the team, but Maleficent couldn't help but be a bit disappointed that he couldn't manage any others.
Filling out the back of the courtyard were Hades's contributions. True to his word, Hades had a myriad of fearsome monsters to bring to the table. Echidna, Memnon, Cerberus, the Hydra, the Minotaur, Doubt, and the Nemean Lion all stood looking ferocious and ready to attack. Up next to Hades were Zorg, Pain, and Panic.
The Cauldron Born warriors formed a perimeter around the crowd, and Diablo the raven flew over head. As her faithful familiar landed on her shoulders, Maleficent couldn't help but smile. The new additions would be her Undertakers, a clever little pun on their position and the work they would do digging the graves of the Organization.
This was truly a gathering worthy of toppling Xehanort.