Chapter 56, everybody! And I feel like after all this I'm going to have to go back to the last several chapters and make sure they read smooth I don't like this have these as I do 'em with these chapters but let me tell you inspiration hit for a few chapters later and there will be screaming. Which I know because I already am.
So as with all my fics, the climax and ending give me grief sometimes because aaaah sitting down and writing it aaaah—I mean I wrote down an outline so I know where to go but STILL. Still got some hot-off-the-presses steam on this chapter but I'm working on it.
Continuing blanket disclaimer: I still have not finished Season Two. We're flying blind, boys. And again, I am still in denial of the end of "Countdown to Catastrophe" don't at me this is how I cope, okay? D: And it's very strange writing this knowing both shows are over but were going strong when I started that's a weird feeling and yet I should be used to it by now. Once again, if you are dissatisfied with these shows ending, send all salt to Disney corporate every nastygram they get that represents fifteen people who couldn't be bothered so WRITE TO THEM.
So back to the fic…that's a Fall Out Boy song for the chapter title got ready to write "Going Down" as the title and went no wait even better. It fits considering Fall Out Boy did "Immortals" in the movie.
In other news, Hiro officially has too much to process at once and is now conducting triage on his thoughts. And despite not knowing movies 'Kase is doing a good job of quoting Barbossa in the third Pirates movie. Meantime Violet's method of fighting is based on the hummingbirds we get in our yard—they like to do this sort of arc up and down and they always sound like they're having a good time when they do it.
Hiro's comment to Tadashi is based on a Tumblr post I saw stating that Jason Todd catching one of the younger Robins with his hips was a mom catch—and yes Superman is better than Batman we have been watching Superman & Lois every Tuesday and it is AWESOME.
Also I'm not certain if I'm referencing Jurassic Park or the 1998 Godzilla movie in that one scene…both, probably, I like those movies and considering even the run of the mill whale-monsters are huge compared to the bird-kids it seems fitting. And also the first Land Before Time movie, if I'm being honest, but that's to be expected I listened to the soundtrack for that one a lot while working on this so it fits. :D
Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! YES! I think we've got at least ten left oh my goodness this is intense but THANK YOU. Yes HenchCo goons know what they're doing. XD I…actually didn't have any plans to add May and June because I never watched the episodes featuring them (sort of fell off the wagon I've got so many episodes to catch up on OTL)…but someone else might crop up. ;) Grump will totally get hugs and feel emotions and pretend he doesn't. XD And thank you—I don't know either, I just run after these guys with a typewriter, but thank you for that vote of confidence! :D
SilverPhoenix, thanks for the review! GRUMP DID JUST SAY THAT. XD AAAH THANK YOU *screams with you*
Hexyah, thanks for the review! HE DID! And we did—realized with the route Grump took he'd run into Ned and I went well let's see how that goes. Grump now has a Sasquatch-esque buddy whether he likes it or not. XD And I've been hearing about the Snyder cut from work—never been really big into the DC cinematic universe, but if I get the chance I'll definitely give it a look. *thumbs up*
Big Hero 6 © 2014 Disney
Ducktales © 2017 Disney
Okay real talk, considering everything that went on tonight, a griffin—an actual griffin, like mythological griffin—crashing through the ceiling should not have been as startling as it ended up being. At least it was maybe friendly? Or at least, fighting the monsters attacking them.
Also real talk? Hiro was very glad he was hanging onto Baymax when the thing turned to look at them with cold blue eyes, a splash of vivid color on one side of its face. That side of its face, where—
He never did figure out just what caused that—yes, part of him wanted to ask, but being kidnapped and then locked up kind of put a damper on that line of questioning.
Plus, having to scramble to save the city, Aunt Cass, everyone, put everything else on the backburner.
The question of the griffin was put on the backburner now too—avoiding getting eaten was a priority, as was making sure the current civilian presence wasn't. The fact that that current civilian presence was his birdified maybe-cloned brother, a definitely-cloned bird-Momakase, and a bunch of bird-kids was also something for the backburner, which was starting to get a little crowded at this point but dangit he was busy trying to not die so he'd address all this later when he had time for the whole nervous breakdown—
Also worth addressing: what should be part of the civilian presence constantly trying to launch herself at the monsters and being caught by Tadashi—it was Webby, by the way, Webby was apparently trying to take on all of the monsters single-handedly. So was Violet, but there was no catching her—she was darting in and out, up and down, diving down, arcing up, and then spinning around and diving down again, beak wide-open and screeching.
"So when did that happen?" Tadashi asked—probably the Momakase-clone and can we talk about WHY Tadashi was currently using the Momakase-clone as a confidant no wait backburner trying not to die right now—
That, fortunately, was also the Momakase-clone's opinion as well.
"I'm a little busy at the moment!" she shrieked—leaped up just as a monster was lunging for her, landed on its back and proceeded to rip it to shreds. In other news, the bird-people had missed the neutralize without hurting the innocent kidnapped monsterfied people memo.
But the important thing was, they were winning and in a few minutes they'd be able to focus on the rest of the crazy AND finding the rest of the bird-people AND Karmi he had not forgotten about that it was just on that crowded backburner and maybe Wasabi was right and they really needed help FOCUS, HIRO.
At least Globby, the one monster, and the griffin who may or may not be another clone or maybe the monsterfied version of don'tthinkaboutit was being helpful, and on top of bird-clones who probably shouldn't be fighting were tipping the tables in their favor—this'd be over in a few minutes—
One of the bigger monsters got past the whale-monster on their side and leaped, ramming into Baymax and knocking Hiro off him—Hiro managed to half-twist around, a thought entering his rattled head that he wanted to see where he was landing—
Tadashi leaped, caught him, went skidding—
Both of them screamed as a maw of sharp teeth descended on them—
To be intercepted by the griffin, biting down on the thick neck and slashing across the face, great big gray wings beating it back, back claws scratching the polished floors as it pushed the monster away—
It took a few frenetic heartbeats before Hiro could comment on the situation.
"You catch like a mom," he told Tadashi.
"You scream like a girl," Tadashi shot back, rolling him off right as Globby punched the last monster. A few tense moments as everyone expected another attack, faint popping noises and howls from somewhere distant, but not close….
"Woo! Yeah!" Fred cheered, pumping the air before exchanging a complicated high-five and hip-bump with Globby. "Yes we are AWESOME tonight!"
"I don't know these people," Gogo declared flatly.
"I legitimately don't know these people," 'Kase said. "It doesn't help."
Hiro shook his head, leaned away from Webby and Violet landing and shrieking and pumping the air in imitation of Fred, of Baymax scanning everyone—okay, immediate problem was addressed, now he could start addressing all that stuff on the backburner before it boiled over.
Starting with the griffin coming back over and rolling its eyes at the general populace.
"I don't know you, do I?" Hiro asked it, dreading the answer. It considered him for a long time….
Shook its head, finally.
"Yeah speaking of did you have to go and make the most extra entrance ever who do you think you are, Batman?" Tadashi asked it, right before getting tackled by Nox.
The griffin responded by looking over at 'Kase and barking.
"'Yes to the first and no to the second,'" 'Kase said. "Apparently bat-people are overrated."
"They are Superman is better."
This also succeeded in getting everyone to actually really look at the griffin now that it had stopped moving—Hiro was glad he wasn't the only one who made the immediate connotation, although Globby having to stop and consider both the griffin and 'Kase was interesting. At least, his expressions as the dawning comprehension set in was.
"Wait," he said slowly, pointing.
"Before you get too far on that topic, the girl you're thinking about is currently buried under that scaffolding over there," 'Kase said, pointing.
"Okay yeah that was my question."
"Ooh yes villain redemption story I must know the details," Fred said, hopping around the griffin with glee—Hiro had to work to keep his expression neutral at the griffin's totally DONE face as it pushed Fred away.
"Uh…yeah we're gonna address that later," Wasabi said. "We have other concerns. Like this thing," he added, flinching away from the friendly whale-monster snorting at him.
"Okay this is Sherman and the last time we met he wasn't like this," Tadashi said, pointing—got rolled by Webby, Lena and Violet tackling him, tried to push them off and get back up—
Hiro spotted the flash of purple the same time the griffin did.
Opening Baymax's chip bay to see that purple chip with the snarling monster decal—
Didn't have time to say anything before the griffin squawked at Tadashi, looking agitated—scrambled a bit, looking around frantically before picking an opening and bolting for it, hopping over some of the unconscious monsters before heeling around and barking at them.
"So I have actually never seen him like this," 'Kase offered. "And that's something considering our track record."
"A translation would be nice," Tadashi said, giving 'Kase a flat look that said this was a common occurrence.
"'Grab the chip, follow me.'" Another bark. "Okay I'm not translating that one."
"We've talked about swearing in front of the kids."
"Okay back to whatever point we originally had what are you doing with that chip?" Hiro demanded as Tadashi grabbed the chip in question.
One of the monsters stirred.
"Okay here's an idea we have this discussion while moving," 'Kase said, running after the griffin.
"I like this idea," Wasabi said, grabbing Violet and taking off after her.
"I still have questions," Globby said, chasing after them.
"Back to you," Hiro said, looking over his shoulder at Tadashi, who had grabbed Nox.
"Found it on the beach after meeting Sherman, pocketed it and forgot about it, why is the thing so important?" Tadashi demanded, apparently perfectly fine with this Sherman filling up the hall behind them as he ran after them.
"I've got a better question: where are we going?" Gogo demanded as the griffin led them to a room that felt like a smaller version of the visitor's center—almost like an employee's only version. The griffin went up to a wall, tapped its beak against it, barked at Sherman before backing up—
Said whale-monster rammed its head against the wall, knocking a door clean off its hinges.
"Huh," Gogo said when the monster backed up. "So that's where the stairs were."
"'Sublevel Three,'" 'Kase said, watching the griffin as it rumbled at her. "'That's where the computer banks are.'"
What the griffin wanted suddenly sizzled across Hiro's brain—look at Tadashi to see that he had reached the same conclusion—
More howls were echoing through the building, sounding closer.
The griffin barked at them, slipped into the stairwell—Sherman about-faced to bristle at one of the other entrances—
"Oh yeah, we got this I am feeling hot tonight!" Globby exclaimed. Hiro grimaced, not feeling sold on leaving Globby alone with a maybe-friendly monster against who knew how many hostiles—
That was the others' feelings as well.
"Go! We got this!" Honey Lemon said, tugging her purse into shooter mode.
"Um," Tadashi noised, apparently still floored at this whole thing.
"Call us as soon as you've got the locations," Gogo said. "Now go!"
"Uh yeah you're going with them," Wasabi said, tugging a hissing Violet off his back to hand to 'Kase. "And we are adding that to the list to have the breakdown over later…."
"Yeah you're weird," 'Kase said, heading down the stairs. Hiro hesitated, looking at an equally hesitant Tadashi—
"We'll be right back," he said, before heading down the stairs.
"We'll be here," Fred said. "WOO I am STOKED, man!"
Glad someone was.
Huey had NOT liked splitting up, splitting up was BAD bad things happened when you split up they were supposed to be flock be flight and being flock being flight was better when you were TOGETHER.
Louie did not like split up either, but they needed to split up to cover more ground and find 'Dashi and the others and that was what they were going to do.
At least they were agreed on cautious-careful-shh, would pause at every intersection and sniff carefully, trying to figure out which way was safest which smelled like flock like flight—Louie hissed every time box rapped against wall Huey hissed every time that happened which was often WHY did Huey insist on keeping it WHY.
'Dashi, Huey insisted. 'Dashi smart-knows things-make poison not-poison.
Louie doubted this immensely, didn't believe it, that was a not-truth—
But then what about the no-feather Hiro that was MAYBE-Dashi's-Hiro—
It had been explained quickly the way their-language always let them know things quickly—Nox's theory Webby's theory that Violet said was true because she had SEEN it—that this no-feather WAS 'Dashi's-Hiro and the reason he was no-feather was because of no good-bad-poison and 'Dashi had been looking for it to make it so 'Dashi's-Hiro was feathered again—
Wilf at that thought—at the thought that she could so easily take away everything that made them them made them flock made them flight made them them the feathers the wings the tail the beak—his mean bald-face no-beak comment from ages and ages ago would apply to all of them just because it pleased her of course she would happily make small and sad and hurting that was why 'Dashi's-Hiro had come in on back of Flying-Baymax it was because he knew and missed flying—
It felt like cold worms wriggling in his belly, unpleasant and worrisome instead of promising food if he was fast enough—shove that thought away, he needed to focus needed to focus on finding flock finding flight—
If they were still flock still flight.
More cold prickling along under feathers—what if she had already made them all small and sad and featherless? What if they were all no-feathers now? what if….
Huey made soft-whistle of concern-worry-you okay-you?, alerting him to the fact that he had stopped, hunched up tight on self and shaking—didn't want this to be true didn't want to think about it but it wouldn't let him not think about it—
What if flock-flight already poisoned? he asked. What if flock-flight all no-feathers?
Huey twitched, looked around as if wondering same-thing and looking for answer somewhere in tunnel they were in…finally reached over and squeezed wrist, layered wing over him and tugged close.
Still flock still flight, he insisted. Flock-flight-us not looks but…inside, he said, freeing up other paw to pat against chest. Flock-flight this feeling feeling of belonging of safe of good of nest of home. Snuggle close. You flock-flight always.
Warble yes-you also-always flock always flight, snuggle close, eyes closed tight against prickly feelings in them….
Felt better about this. Would not matter what she did to them so long as they were flock were flight they were strong were okay they were stronger together so what they needed to do was be together.
Okay, he chirped finally, blinking several times to clear itchy-feeling from eyes, deep snrk to clear nares so he could sniff at air again. Okay. Start crawling forward again, mincing and sniffing and listening. Okay. Mince along—stiffen at breeze suddenly starting in tunnel what-what-what—
Huey hissed, making him freeze—
Big toothy monster like what had attacked them in city was padding along beneath them, making deep snuffling sounds as it hunted—freeze, stay still stay quiet stay safe—
Wilfed tighter when he heard it turn around, rough hide sliding against wall of too-small-for-it tunnel—
Held breath when it snorted against tiny-slats he had been peering through, gusting hot stinky air up—don't move don't move don't move stay still stay quiet stay safe—
Growl, start padding away—stop to sniff at next tiny-slats—strange breeze might actually be good—
It was coming back.
Nonononono panic but panic wouldn't help needed plan needed trick-idea Huey was wilfed to nothing next to him wilfed to nothing needed idea—
Wait.
No good-bad-poison would make them small and sad and featherless…would it make monster small and weak and toothless?
Poke Huey, point at box, at monster—Huey was quaking, shaking head—hissed breathlessly at him no-time no-time no-time—shaky paws tried to open box—
Tunnel suddenly buckled, pieces of it falling away—Louie and Huey shrieked, Louie screeching now-now-now—
Huey grabbed box, screaming, Louie grabbed Huey—monster bit at tunnel again, teeth stabbing into it on either side of them, ripping tunnel out of space and into larger-tunnel where it could shake—brace themselves trying to keep from sliding out but monster was biting down would crush them—
Screech to let go!, went sliding out headfirst as monster shook—bounced against wall, pushed off, fled—
Huey refused to let go of box, was slower—Louie doubled back, batted box out of his paws—Huey screeched NO—
Monster spotted them, dropped piece of tunnel—
Louie scrambled for box, yanked piece of poison out—
Monster lunged for them, mouth wide-open and showing sharp teeth—
Louie threw piece of poison into open-mouth and dove away, Huey already darting away with box—monster had committed to charge, landed hard on jaw—coughed as it got back up, spittling bleeding and glass and the strange yellow of poison—
Started twitching, jerky, unable to stand—
Louie grabbed Huey, shrieking go-go-go—didn't want to stay and find out what no good-bad-poison did to self did to monster did to anyone—fled, flattening ears against shrieks—
Didn't want to know what she had possibly done to flock to flight.
Grit beak as they fled down bigger tunnels, avoiding sounds of monsters of strangeness—he would not let that happen. Not to him to Huey to Dewey to Della to anyone—
He wasn't going to let her hurt them any longer.