Dawn of Injustice: Return of the Mavericks Secret Report 9 (The Phantom's Menace)
Disclaimer: This is just secret reports that may or may not be canon to this AU. Secret reports contain references from quotes, poetry and other contents that may be a topic of controversy. This secret report may occurred after or before the events of Return of the Mavericks. Somewhat short but compiled into bulks.
TLH/TC are owned by Nickelodeon Studios. Loud Heroes is owned by Smoking Wrecker [Epic-Wrecker] and Zachlor16
The Ghost and The Shell part 2
Friedrich Nietzsche
-What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.-
-To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.-
-Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss gazes back into you.-
-Luan Secret Report continuation after SR8-
What happened previously is that Apep, serpent queen of the Ghost Zone and Dorathea's adoptive mother, had tasked Charlene Tanner aka. Poltergeist to battle in an arena to rescue the lady of love (former mistress of the west), Hathor. She is at her final battle but she is also hanging by the thread, holding on to what life she had left. But what exactly happened before the final round? Well, it turns out that the catastrophic event such as the dying and resurrection of the Speed Realm had created an uncanny chain of events. Some escapee from the Netherworld had crept their way to La Xibalba/Purgatory but they could not be accepted since they haven't passed the test in Limbo City. As such, they are instead sent to the Ghost Zone to suffer a different punishment. Some are sent to the Dessert Fires of Seth, while some who learn true penitence decided to take a different test similar to Limbo City division. All in the hopes that they get to have a second chance in life as either a specter or a reincarnated human like the systematic cycle of life. Sounds complicated but that's just how it goes for them.
Back to Poltergeist. What happened? Here's a flashback
Flashback
Dorathea and Anubis had travelled far an wide to reach the Tormentor's Arena where she will rescue Hathor. The Princess and the Guard Hound explained that the lingering souls that escaped their torments desired someone to listen to their pleas and petitions. Like a therapy session, they needed a listener to help them be absolved and relieved of their suffering. But only someone of godly status can do that or at least, someone with a sort of a holy authority like exorcists, priests or shamans. Hathor was lost since she removed her Star Armlet that protects her from the forces of darkness and unnatural. It was said that she did so to make amends for the lost sons that died during the Exodus war due to Egypt/Surima's refusal to surrender and abolish slavery. Hathor returned as the mistress of the west but saw that the Angelic Armies sent the souls to the Void (with Delgaia) rather than the three realms of the Afterlife. She is relieved that they don't had to face anguish, but horrified that they could not participate in the reincarnation cycle.
It was a failure on her part since they are innocent and it was just the Pharaoh's household (and the rebel lords of Surima) that blindly followed Pandora's influence over them (Yes, this was before Ehyeh and Pandora reconciled). It was a tremendous loss. Now without the Armlet, she is trapped with no reprieve nor return. The other lords of Surima that resided in the Ghost Zone could not do anything either since they had a law to abide. The only way to have Hathor the permission to leave her post is to return the Star Armlet, something that has been hidden in Surima for thousands of years. Something entombed, never to be found.
Thus an alternative is either to eradicate all the escapee or… someone to replace Hathor from her duties. Something Charlene thought about. There was never really an escape for her crimes. A glimmer of hope, denied right at the very end. But it could be worse, suffering in the sands of Seth… she'd refuse. At least in this, if the escapees decreased in numbers, she'll be given a temporary reprieve.
They've reach the Tormentor's arena and greeted by its master. A creature so bulky and armored, obsidian in color, with wings of a bat, horns similar to a Minotaur, and a grin on its face. Dorathea and Anubis greeted the being before them.
Anubis: It has been long, Lord Obelisk the Tormentor.
Obelisk: So, this is the fresh meat you've brought in my house of pain.
Dorathea: You already know why she's here. Where is Slifer?
Obelisk: The crimson dragon is sent somewhere with my letter. It is headed towards lord Osiris. The contents of the letter is a premonition, that the number of evil ghosts are rapidly increasing. These escapees are populating and mistress Charlotte's Hotel was laid waste, thus removing their chance to repent. Limbo City is no good either, Harriet is absent and tending to Silas or rather, Thanatos and Erynis. Without a watcher, tests are delayed. What is worse is that the unrepentant are taking the souls of the penitent and keeping them imprisoned while the guilty escapes. Thanks to Angel of Death, Azrael, chief of the reapers; along with the Ghost of Time, we delayed their conquest to Scala Ad Caelum. However, they are now wreaking havoc here. I have to double my duties because of that.
Anubis: It is unfortunate indeed. If we had all the pieces of our brother maybe he could send them all to the void. But that would be going against Charlotte Morningstar's wishes and removing their chances to repent. Then again, some of them are beyond saving.
Charlene: Brother?
Dorathea: They meant Exodia the Forbidden Lord of Obliteration. He was a powerful yet pacifistic lord of Surima and brother of Anubis and Obelisk. He was so powerful than Ra that it will take him the combined efforts of Osiris, Seth and Horus to defeat.
Charlene: Well, where is he? Why can't he help?
Dorathea: He was so powerful that he could obliterate anything but he's pacifistic that he called someone to seal him. Lady Nephthys and Lady Isis offered the sealing magic by splitting him into 5 pieces and only by a powerful forbidden spell, could he be summoned but it can only be done once. After that, it will take a year to do it again.
Anubis: And he hasn't been summoned for a long time since doing so require so much power. So much power that it cannot be done alone. The spell needs many sources to perform. It was done once for thousands of years ago, and performed again centuries ago.
Obelisk: Doing it again would involve volunteers and the knowledge of the spell itself. I have it with me but since there are no volunteers to perform this with, it is practically useless.
Charlene: How many volunteers are needed anyway?
Obelisk: More than 5 is needed. Five is the minimum but the success rate could be lower. If it fails, it will be a waste of energy and the summoning will not be done. Worse case is the user dies trying if it drained all of their energy.
Charlene: Then what am I suppose to do?
Anubis: You are to replace Hathor's post as mediator or defender. But since you have no divine powers whatsoever, you'll either be trapped there or had the choice to fight them. Thus sending them to the void.
Dorathea: We could fight them if we needed to but that will have collateral damage. Us deities are governed to never intervene unless necessary. That is the our law so we send champions instead and grant them our blessings.
Obelisk: Just like those heroes that sent you here in this prison. They are champions blessed by certain divines, angels or demons. Some are cursed to do one's bidding in order to attain power and some are destined to rescue others from perils. As for you, you are in no shape to fight these shades but I can torment you to shape. Be prepared!
End Flashback
Skipping from the excruciating training that Poltergeist did, she's also given the blessing and knowledge of Obelisk the Tormentor of new abilities she could use. Unlike Danny's ghost howl and Ecto-Cryokinetic (Ghost-Ice power), what she learned is fear-induced torment and ecto-telekinesis based on an actual poltergeist. The fear part is courtesy of Obelisk, which enables her to shape-shift into her opponent's greatest fear and torment them with mental attacks. All she needs to is draw the fear by touch and invoke it to put them into a ghostly illusion that causes them paranoia. She endured the harsh training and compared to the Dessert Sands of Seth, Obelisk's pedagogy is a cakewalk. Thus the whole battles montage where she uses her ghostly telekinesis to move things and block the passage of any escapee lost souls. Then using her fear-induced torment, she placed the lost shades into a trance of their worst nightmares, making them vulnerable to her attacks. The shades attacking are sent to the void, the vast sea of pure nothingness were Delgaia/Chaos's body is sealed while his essence is within Pandora's Box. Soon, the final round came about and the last wave of enemies are being prepared. Charlene noticed that what she is doing is reducing the population of both the Ghost Zone and the Netherworld by attacking and sending the unrepentant souls to the Eternal Void. She wonders now if she deserve this compensation from all the crimes she committed, that she is promised freedom once the fight is over. She couldn't help but reflect her situation to the shades she had eliminated so far. That was going to be her fate is she decided to refuse Queen Apep. Reduced into the sands of Seth, burnt into nothing, sent to Eternal Void. Poltergeist is stating to shake, her veins quake and her own fear is evolving into a phobia. But before it could take over her, a bright light shining like the jewels and stars flashed before her. It formed into a beautiful lady, adorned from chest to her lower body with treasures as she wore a gold crown decorated by pearls. Her voluptuous body could be compared to the Greek-Roman Lady Aphrodite/Venus or Freya of Asgard. But her skin is Egyptian/Suriman, making it noticeable of who she is. Hathor, the mistress of the west, aka. Lady of Love and Fertility.
Hathor: You must be the one sent to deliver me. Do not raise your fist against those shining with my radiance for they are absolved and repentant. I mediate it so.
Charlene/Poltergeist: Are you Hathor? The goddess of love in Egypt? I was sent to rescue you and bring you back to master Horus.
Hathor: Ah… my love. It's been so long, I must have forgotten about him. But nay I say to you that I forgot what I felt to be with him. How I long to see him again but you, girl. It seemed that you must have questions before your incoming trail. Speak now or forever hold your thoughts.
Charlene/Poltergeist: How do you endure this? What's the point? Don't you get anything from all this?
Hathor: Well… I'll answer them all with my story. You see, in the younger years of the world… I too was young and given the task of being the mistress of the west. It was dull and boring, overseeing the souls to the afterlife and ensuring the are appropriated to their respective destinies. Some stayed with me, like a purgatory for them. Some are dumped away to the void or in the Netherworld with all the other demons. And some are arisen to the Stairway to Paradise (Scala Ad Caelum). There was no reward whatsoever and since I'm a unearthly divine being, the riches like gold and jewels are nothing but toys. There are some unrepentant souls and demons easily bewitched by my beauty. I couldn't let them torment me with their lust so I fought back. Here's a little secret - Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss gazes back into you.
Charlene/Poltergeist: What's that mean?
Hathor: If you try to be a hero or just simply try to defend yourself, you have to make sure you stay as yourself or else, you'll become the same monsters you fought back there. I can sense you're having second thought, as if you knew you've almost became one and was willing to accept your punishment for it. I recommend to stay strong and vigilant. The fact that you're here means your second chance isn't lost. You're trapped here, yes… but let it not dissuade you on finding absolution.
Charlene/Poltergeist: But I feel like I deserve this. I've been greedy my whole life. I only worked for the sake of the pay, never caring for the safety of others and their feelings. I've used rough ghosts and trapped them in hopes of using them in my personal desires.
Hathor: There's nothing wrong in desire, but to be controlled by it will be harmful. The fact that you're reflecting is a sign that you're not letting it control you any longer. That's a start. I too desired it but my patience shrunk day by day. I was desperate. Until Horus came along and at first, I bewitched him to free me. It was selfish and I was angry if he ever failed but… soon I grew to like him since he kept me company and told me that he would not rest until he freed me one way or another. I asked him why and answered with simplicity. "I just simply want to help and that's my job as protector and my father's successor" he said. He was prince and son of Osiris. But he didn't do it out of the reward, rather he'd done it out of his sense of duty, nobility and obligation to protect his people without any payoff. He wasn't blinded by greed and was free from those kinds of attachments. It is why his people are happy by him. It is why I fell in love with him. He was enticed by me yes, Isis and Nephthys erased the spell I put and gave him protection. Yet he continued to helped me and found a demon-repellant Star Armlet made from different holy materials. That was my reward, my freedom and getting Horus as my beloved. From my duty, I was given a reprieve.
Charlene/Poltergeist: If you're free now, why did you return here?
Hathor: When the people of Surima had become corrupted and enslaved their foreign settlers from Canaan (the Hebrews), their messenger demanded to free them so that we may be in peace. But the pharaoh back then was cruel and unmoving. The messenger then called upon the arcane powers of their Deity. The Creator Himself had came and warned us that Pandora is influencing their people along with her demons and Nightmares/Hexians. If his people refuse to submit to authority, they will face his armies of Cherubs and Archangels. Surima was divided into the peace faction, led by Ra and Osiris while the other is led by Sobek and Seth. Pandora's influence gotten stronger by this division and the pharaoh refused the liberation. The opposing faction refused to surrender so they've assassinated Osiris, leading him here. Isis was next. Ra reported this mutiny to the Cherubs and the salvo was met by Sobek's death and the Nile ran red. Soon, Pandora influenced more of the opposite faction and Seth caused the sands to become hail of fire, flies, locusts and itching sooth. The Cherubs and the peace faction protected the Hebrews and those who surrendered to their lands. After a while, the dreaded event came. At night, the angels of death, led by Azrael, marched by night and eliminated each firstborns and sparing only the marked doors. This caused the pharaoh's son to fall victim and relinquished his authority over the slaves. Pandora's influence was removed from them and the leader of the Cherub did his blow and resealed Pandora's power back to her box. I told Horus that I will return to my duties and be escorted by Anubis so I could let the firstborns rest with their love ones. But when I reached the afterlife, I was too late. The souls are too innocent for torment but they couldn't pass the Stairway to Paradise. So the souls are sent to the void since the middle Necropolis (La Xibalba) is underdeveloped. That was the sight of my failure and so I removed the Armlet and let the myself be punished for my error.
Charlene/Poltergeist: But you didn't deserve it, right?
Hathor: Many said I don't but I felt the pain, the weight of my burden. I failed to asked them for their souls and let them be with me so that they can be given a chance to the Stairway when the time is ripe. Not only that but one last Pandora's resort, the pharaoh chased the slaves to the sea but they escaped, leaving the chariots and the armies to drown by the seawater. Only the pharaoh survived. More dead came and they are a mixed bunch of repentant and condemned souls. Some are given my my guidance to reunite with their love in the afterlife, and the rest are after me. And for soon, I've forgotten about my freedom and returned to my duties… until you came to rescue me.
Charlene/Poltergeist: It must have been so hard. I know money is temporary but the freedom I had back then. I took it for granted and let myself be blinded by greed.
Hathor: I was blinded by my love and desire for Horus that I've forgotten my duties to fulfil. If that battle commenced and I didn't had Horus, I'd be able to have those souls of those boys be with me and be spared from the Void. But it's no use dwelling in the past. You have a battle to engage. The one that will decide your freedom. You must stay ready.
Charlene finished her conversation with Hathor and prepared for the battle. A wave of shades, sinners and escapee came about. And since none of them are penitent, they all are running amok and fueled by a shadowy aura. An armada that the ghostly girl couldn't possibly win, not without help… until.
Male's Voice: CAMAEL! FULL ARCHANGEL MODE. [A flaming Archangel, blazing in splendorous glory arrived at the Ghost Zone]. MAY THE WRATH OF GOD PIERCE THEE. HAR MEGGIDO (Armageddon - A powerful Fire attack that had both Holy and Demonic properties. Can pierce even the souls).
The Egyptian-theme arena is shaken by the Fire arrow zooming through the shades and burning them to nothing. Charlene saw on who saved her. It was two Danielle "Dani" Plasmius (adopted Fenton), Daniel "Danny" Fenton from Fenton Corp and some from the L-Crew, Lincoln, Liby, Jor-El and Luan Loud-Stein. Charlene recognize Luan and the feeling is mutual.
Luan/Mystica: I figured someone was being "ghosted" but I just didn't find out who, until now.
Charlene/Poltergeist: Brace-face… or you don't have the braces anymore, clown-face. Here to brag about your business blooming?
Luan/Mystica: Actually, my Funny Business kinda shutdown during my brother's little regime and takeover until peace came and I returned to my business. And I needed a partner since I can't focus on the business with both my family and the heroics.
Charlene/Poltergeist: Oh… I didn't know. Hey, uh Luan. Bygones?
Luan/Mystica: Bygones. Besides, I think you've suffered here enough. I'll have the Fenton Corp have you released and given a new life. But you have to promise on no more using dangerous stuff to satisfy your greed.
Charlene/Poltergeist: Sure. I've learned my lessons. And I'd rather not get hurt here, especially with that Seth guy or master Obelisk.
Lincoln/Phoenix: To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Luan/Mystica: Can you save the poetics for later? How are we going to beat them all?
Danny: I did not see this one coming.
Dani: What can we do? There's too many of them! We'll go tried before we can stop them all from overrunning the whole Ghost Zone!
Lincoln/Phoenix: Camael and I just recently reunited so our strength may have been diminished for a bit. But I've read this from some of the books of magic. Necrozuwar, Dead Sea Scrolls, Lesser Keys of Solomon and others like Tome of Angels and Arcamada book of spells. What if we summon the Forbidden One?
Luan/Mystica: Who's the forbidden one?
Charlene/Poltergeist: You mean, you know Exodia, Lord of Obliteration?
Lincoln/Phoenix: Yes. And maybe he can help. All we need is the chant and 5 volunteers to use the energy to conjure his body pieces.
Charlene/Poltergeist: I know how the spell works. The volunteers will each conjure a specific body piece and the main body will be summoned by the chanter. It require 5 or more people of strong spiritual energy to do so. It can be ghostly, divine or demonic energy to summon him.
Lincoln/Phoenix: As Camael's vessel, I'll summon the main body. Jor-El and Liby will summon one part since Jor-El is from my blood, granting him great powers. Dani and Daniel will summon the other one. Luan is blessed by the magic Staff of Eden, she can summon. How about you, Tanner?
Charlene/Poltergeist: I've been trained and empowered by Obelisk, lord of torment. I can summon a piece.
Lincoln/Phoenix: Alright. Then we shall begin. Here are the steps.
By using the ghost powers, flame powers and force fields; they drew a magic circle shaped like a 5-pointed star coinciding within the circle. The circle is drawn and Lincoln began the chant. Dani and Danielle summoned the first piece, The Left Arm of the Forbidden. Luan conjured the Right Leg. Jor-El and Liby revealed the Right Arm and lastly Charlene the Left Leg. All that is left is the main body of Exodia. Then a voice spoke to them, the voice of the Forbidden One.
Exodia: Who dares summon me?
Lincoln/Phoenix: Exodia! Heed our command for we have placed your body pieces in place! We need your aid!
Exodia: You did it well. And your bodies have endured torment yet it refused to be eradicated. Very well, I found thee worthy. Speak your wish, your command and I shall heed thy bidding.
Lincoln/Phoenix: EXODIA! Obliterate those impenitent shades! Send them all to the Void. Leave none of those alive but keep the place intact! Now Go!
The main body of Exodia then appeared. His feature is similar to a Pharaoh's Tomb, marked with Ankhs and Egyptian/Suriman symbols. He attached his bodies to himself and finally appeared successfully. He then gathers all his powers and in one move, had obliterated every enemies on the way. The only ones left are Hathor and the repentant souls. At long last, the mistress of the west is free to return to Horus. A crimson wyvern, Slifer had arrived to bring back Hathor's Star Armlet and with this, no more demons will ever come at Hathor. News came and Limbo City is under a new management so that Harriet can return to La Xibalba… A teddy bear with an artificial soul. And the Netherworld Rehab Hotel is also repaired by someone kind enough to share their funding. Silas/Thanatos became more vigilant of the Netherworld activities so that no escapees will flee from his indignation judgement.
Charlene is safely returned home under Luan's probation. She became a changed person and no longer influenced by greed. Lincoln and Lisa are coincidentally met with Hornet (formerly Honeybee) and Vesuvius. Lincoln wondered why these reformed ex-fugitive couples had returned since their service are over. Lisa explained that they came to take the child Lisa created from both their DNA and an artificial SOUL. This was devised since there's only one place they could adopt a child due to their criminal record. Said place, an orphanage near a church had ran out of funding and children to foster so they are destined to close down and reformed into a local chapel/charity soup kitchen. Another is that Vesuvius attempted to gain a donor for surrogacy and Chandler and Lincoln were in the list.
Talk about awkward for Hornet. Why McCann though? Is this another case of Sharkboy and Lavagirl? Maybe not. And as for Lincoln? He'd rather not accept but the two girls might be a little persistent. Oh dear, what kind of timeline had they created from that mess. But it's kinda better than the Destruction Ending from that timeline.
-Secret Report 9: End-
AN: I admit; Obelisk, Slifer and Exodia is based on a certain card game. What can I say, I used love playing that game. I even attempted to collect those cards and play with a card mat. And said card game had reference to Egyptian Mythology as well so it only fits that I do that. Also, Smoke (Epic-Wrecker) and Zachlor16 did made Vesuvius and Honeybee (Hornet in my AU) as a couple so I did the same. But since this is a futuristic AU, they decided to adopt a child and have another via Lisa's cloning machine. They are also, planning on another child but options are limited so they attempted surrogacy. However, the donors are limited and Chandler being a candidate is a reference to Sharkboy and Lavagirl (from their movie and the sequel "We Can Be Heroes"). As for Lincoln being a candidate, it's a running gag since Lava and Fire goes well together.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading. Leave a like, review, follow and as always: God Bless, Stay Safe and Peace/Shalom!
PS: Any questions will be entertained but I mostly prefer them to be sent in a Private Chat to avoid ambivalence between readers/reviewers. I'd rather keep this place peaceful and nontoxic please.