Chapter Four: Oscar Pine

Maria sat in the restaurant in Central Vale, enjoying the noodle dish she was eating. It was delicious, a nice red sauce on it to make it have that sweet spice that she so loved.

"Waiter, what's your best dish here?" She asked once she'd finished. "I am getting a feeling I'm going to want more."

"Well, signora, our best dish is a nice calamari pasta shrimp delight."

"Oooh, that sounds delightful. I'll take some."

"Right away, signora." The waiter departed, Maria waiting and watching her watch. Raven was running late, even after saying she was going to get this person Polendina had told them to retrieve to destroy this threat. She was getting bored and there were only so many dishes she could pack away before she would get too bored to continue. Besides, too much pasts often went to give her problems later in the day.

The waiter brought out her dish, Maria ready when she noticed the mushy parts on top, strange little balls of oozing meat.

"What the hell is this?" She asked.

"I see you are foreigner," The waiter chuckled. "Those are the pieces of calamari, which is squid. It adds the flavor to the pasta along with the shrimp underneath."

Maria took a forkful, making sure to get some shrimp as well. She gasped at how good it was, licking her lips in delight.

"I love it."

"Glad you approve, signora. Enjoy the rest."

Maria kept eating, eavesdropping on other guests. One conversation that kept catching her ear was one from across the room. A man was flirting awfully with some girls, but by awful, Maria meant it made her sick how smooth he seemed to come across as.

The man wore an olive green jacket over a white shirt. It was a long sleeved jacket that went to his waist. He had on black pants that looked as if they could handle combat. He had fingerless gloves that were a dark blue shade. He wore suave shoes that seemed to cost a small fortune. Around his head was a band that was checkered and cut into diagonal lines. It trailed behind him like a ponytail, showing off his fashion. His hair was brown and quite a strange messy, yet neat look. His eyes were a light yellowish green that stared cooly at the woman in front of him.

"Oh, ladies, ladies, please, one at a time," He laughed as several women crowded around him, attempting to feed him. Maria made a loud gagging sound, pretending to not have been doing it when the man looked over. When he went back to his women, Maria picked up a particularly slimy piece of calamari, loading it onto her fork. She charged a little bit of Aura into the piece of squid, using her fork like a catapult, the calamari rushing straight for the strange man. Maria went back to eating as she watched, nearly gasping and choking as she saw the man had caught it with a spoon, the electric crackle of Aura surrounding it as his spoon moved in a flick of his wrist. It went straight for Maria's glass, shattering it as it fell in Maria's lap.

"Alright, that's it!" Maria stood up, marching over to the man, grabbing him by his collar. "What's the big idea of attacking me like that, you shitbrain!?"

"You attacked first, you overgrown hussy," The man, still in his suave voice, removed Maria's hands. "Such a disgrace to your family name, not that I care. I shall defeat them with the Aura ability I taught myself."

"Why you little—" Maria tackled the man to the ground, all the women trying to pull her off. She used a bit of Aura to push them away as she and the man rolled around on the ground.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Raven's voice sounded from the door. "I leave you alone for twenty minutes and you start another fight!? Must I put you on a leash?"

"He started it!" Maria pointed at the man.

"Nu uh, you started it!" The man pointed back, suave attitude dropping a bit as he pointed at Maria.

"Did not, you pretty boy womanizer!"

"You did too, you shameless hussy!"

"Dickless Fuckwad!"

"Whiny Bitch!"

With that, the two began to fight again. Raven got in between them, pushing them back.

"Enough, you two!" She shouted. "We're in public. Behave! Maria, I'll tell Tai about this if you don't stop it!"

"Now now, there's no need to be hasty," Maria quickly waved her hands at Raven. "I'll try to do better."

"You had best," Raven said. "Or, it'll be you who regrets it."

"Whatever!" Maria said. "I don't even care anymore. Now, did you find that guy we're supposed to find?"

"Well, I was going to tell you, but then you started punching him in the face." Raven sighed.

"Wait, this prick is the guy we need?" Maria pointed. "I'd rather be killed by a homicidal statue person than work with him!"

"And, I'd rather not work with my grandfather's killer," The man said.

"Now, Oscar, that's not what happened," Raven said.

"It might as well be," Oscar said. "I can't believe you want my help."

"We can't do this alone," Raven said. "We'll need all the help we can get."

"Look, I can get you to see the things we found, but I won't help this one more than I have to," Oscar pointed at Maria.

"Well, I didn't want to work with you either," Maria said. "Let's just go."

Later

"I can't believe we all crowded into this tiny car to go there," Maria sat in the back of the small car with Raven, who was comfortable in the car.

"Well, if you don't like my car, you're more than welcome to leave," The Atlesian woman in the driver's seat looked back, moving her white hair out of the way of her blue eyes. "But, the drive is a few miles more than you would care to walk."

"And, why are we helping the Atzis anyway?" Maria asked.

"The Atlesians are helping us study this," Oscar said. "Corporal Schnee here is my best friend."

"That's Willow to you, Pine Tree." Corporal Schnee, er, Willow, laughed.

"Alright, alright, Willow," Oscar laughed as well. "So, how's the kid and hubby?"

"Jacques is doing well," Willow looked at the wheel with fondness, Maria and Raven holding on as her steering worsened. "And, Winter is growing up big and strong. Shooting up like a weed."

"Well, I'm visiting next month, so you better make me that Atlesian soup." Oscar put an arm around Willow, pulling her to his chest with a grin.

"Oh, you know I will."

"Can we focus more on driving?" Maria cut in, pushing the two apart.

"How about you tell us how you factor into the Atlesian's efforts?" Raven suggested.

"Well, they're using mu Aura to study the effects on the Grimmlords," Oscar waved a hand dismissively. "We're seeing if we could manage to destroy them. They were hidden underground for so long. But, I suppose we're going to see the truth here."

"Wait, did you say 'Grimmlords'?" Maria asked. "That's fucking stupid."

"I'd love to see you do better," Oscar scoffed.

"MegaGrimm," Maria pointed a finger at him, poking his forehead. "Beat that, pretty boy."

"I don't have to take much effort to do that," Oscar rolled his eyes. "It takes zero effort to beat such a mediocre effort."

"Oh, fuck you, you shitbrain! Just focus on getting us there!"

The car ride was quieter, Willow trying to lighten the mood, but unable to break through the sour mood between Oscar and Maria.

Meanwhile, where the Atlesians had gathered to watch the statues embedded into the wall. They had moved them deep underground, shining powerful UV lights on them to prevent their awakening. The men and women stood at attention, watching the statues.

These statues seemed almost like the one uncovered in Old Vale. But, this one portrayed three figures, one of them a woman and the other two men. The woman was stretched out almost like portraying herself as a goddess with the other two almost like they had knelt beside her in worship.

"Men, we're all aware of the fact we are supposed to be watching these statues," The soldier in charge pointed at the statues. "But, we also need to make absolutely sure we make this look like we're doing a good job."

"Yes sir," They all saluted.

"Now, Oscar is coming to this place to show another warrior trained in Aura. I want all of you on your best behavior. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir!" Came the echoing reply.

The soldier's speech was interrupted by the sound of stone breaking. He paused, turning around to look at the statues. One seemed to have a hole on its arm, which seemed to pulse an eerie feeling. It was like looking into a black hole.

"Keep those lights trained on the statues!" He ordered, stepping closer. He looked at the hole, momentarily not realizing that he had covered up the hole and obscured it from the UV lights that were meant to keep the creatures dormant.

Unfortunately for him, that was all that was needed. From the hole shot a strange orb that shot through his forehead, splattering both his blood and his brains onto the lights. They either shorted out or were simply obscured.

The stone around the hole cracked as it seemed to regain color. The orb that shot out snaked through all the other members as if controlled by remote control, shooting through all of them, pulling them together. They seemed to become a strange mass of melded flesh, sticking together and fusing.

All of the soldiers panicked and tried to escape their new formation, blood spurting as fused skin was torn at. They couldn't break free of each other. The orb then shot through them as part of it emerged like a straw, reaching back into the hole in the statue's bicep.

The mass of soldiers began to shrink as all the nutrients and blood were sucked out of them. They became like an oversucked juice pouch, shriveled like raisins, and flopped on the ground. It was a disgusting sight to behold. They all screamed as it happened, feeling as if they were being pulled through a space not even a mouse could squeeze through.

Once it was done, the statue cracked further, turning its true colors. It broke away from the wall, standing to its massive height of eight feet. His skin was a tanned color, like he lived in the desert. He, like Tyrian before him, was dressed sparsely, a loincloth covering its unmentionables. He wore sandals, which went to the tops of his bodybuilder-esque calves. On his wrists, he had bronze bands, which were like wrist guards. On his knees, he had bronze plating as well. He had a small leather vest that was a hazel color, tendrils of leather whipping around his body that trailed off of it. Around his neck was a small necklace with a ring tied to it. His brown hair was shaven close, almost like a flat top. He had his hazel colored eyes closed, stroking a pose that crossed his arms and had him in almost a squatting position.

The Grimmlord, as the Atlesians had begun referring to him and his compatriots, looked around, taking note of the lights that had been shining on them. He also noted the soldiers that had been attempting to stop his revival, the same soldiers that lay dead at his feet, drained of their bodily fluids.

"Such pitiful trinkets," His deep voice seemed to almost hold disdain. "To try and conquer something as noble as the untouchable sun. Pitiful, I say."

He turned to the other statues, touching them.

"Awaken my masters!" He called out. "It is time to awaken!"

The other statues shuddered in response to his touch, beginning to crumble as they too changed to their natural colors.

The other male was a little shorter, but still massive as he stood up. He had brown hair as well, but it was a much darker shade, streaking over his face like bolts of lightning. He was also muscular, standing in a firm pose that showed off his physique. He had green eyes that were the shade of a cat's, almost an electric tint to them. He was dressed similarly to the other, though his attire was black and red. His knee and wrist guards were a silver color, shining brilliantly. There was a ring on his ear and he held his fists clenched, standing up.

The female, however, seemed to be the most dangerous of all. She was shorter than both of the other Grimmlords (though still taller than almost any human), but the way they stood seemed to almost be in awe and respect of her. Her appearance was actually one that looked almost graceful. She wasn't a musclebound hulking giant, but she was certainly more fit looking than any human woman could ever hope to be. She wore a simple white dress that stopped at her knees, decorated with a design not unlike that of the masks of bone. Her skin was fair, unlike the other two men who had more tanned complexions. Her hair was a very light blonde that flowed past her breasts and her blue eyes were cold and dangerous to behold. Her sandals were a golden color, a dangerous spike coming up from the back that travelled up her legs a bit. They went to her knees, lacing tightly to her slender, yet muscular body. She wore no wrist guards or knee guards and had no rings on her.

The two newly awakened Grimmlords looked at the tallest one as if waiting for his response. He bowed onto one knee before them.

"Master Watts, Mistress Salem," His tone was full of reverence. "I have dispatched of the humans and their device to keep us dormant and awakened you as tasked."

"Thank you, Hazel," The woman, Salem stepped forward. As she stepped over the shadow of Hazel, the muscular man swung his leg around in a powerful kick, the force of which could shatter a boulder. Salem, however, was not moved, the force not even moving her head a centimeter.

"Hazel, how dare you?!" The other male, Watts, exclaimed, moving forward to attack Hazel.

"It is alright," Salem spoke, which immediately stopped Watts in his tracks. Hazel had assumed a position of submission, head bowed. "I forgot about his distaste for people touching his shadow at all. I apologize, Hazel."

"Thank you very much, Mistress Salem," Hazel looked relieved at this statement. "As you requested, I have awoken us at night so that we may leave this place now."

"Very good," Salem looked pleased. "We should find the Fire Dust Stone of Mistral so that we may complete our goal."

At that moment, Maria, Raven, Oscar, and Willow had arrived at the catacomb entrance. Oscar had opened a secret entrance under the Central Valean Museum of space, which was just under a strange stone that was said to be from another planet. Raven had remarked something about a legend of the rock making people sick when they touched it, but it wasn't much of a story and Maria was bored. They were walking through the catacombs to the place where the Atlesian soldiers were keeping the Grimmlords in their slumber.

"Sure is fucking quiet!" Maria called out as they walked. "Anyone else notice that?!"

"Shut the hell up, you dolt," Oscar chided her.

"No, she's right," Willow's eyes narrowed as she reached for her pistol she kept on her person. "Something's off. Normally, you can hear voices. It's Oobleck's turn to watch the place in this group and you can always hear him tell some dumb joke."

"Oobleck being quiet gives me an uneasy feeling," Oscar clenched his fists. "I hope they're all just being idiots. We'll need to be careful if we're to destroy them."

They entered the large corridor where the Grimmlords were being held. It was dark, the only light being moonlight that shone down into the corridor from a hole in the ceiling. Maria stepped in first, looking around. She felt something underneath her feet, making a face as she heard the squishing sound. She looked down to see the deflated hand underneath her.

"What the fuck did they bring a blow-up doll for?" She narrowed her eyes. "Fucking weirdos."

"Oh, please, knowing this platoon, they'd just be doing that with the girls here on guard duty. Those girls are awfully frisky when they want to be. But, they're usually really good at doing their duties. I wonder where they went."

"Um, I don't think that's a doll…" Raven gasped. Maria looked around, seeing the near deflated bodies of the rest of the platoon, stepping back immediately.

"Ewww, what the fuck?! Why's there a bunch of deflated people there?!"

"We're too late," Oscar looked at where the statues once were embedded in the wall. "They're awake."

"Well, let's go kick their asses then," Maria crossed her arms, her cocky smirk showing itself.

"Well, that's not advisable," Willow interjected. "We studied their statues and the environment around them when they were discovered and there's reason to believe that these three are much more powerful than Tyrian, who you fought in Old Vale. We can't just rush into this. It could be bad for us."

"Well, we can't just stand around here. I'm bored and I want to fight."

"Be patient, Maria," Raven chided. "I can't believe you're not thinking this through. You could be killed. You are one of the last two Aura users in existence. If you fall, it could be catastrophic for the rest of the world since the sun only turns them to stone."

"I'm not going to be killed," Maria glared at her in mock irritation. "I'm Maria Rose, badass extraordinaire. I'm not going to die for at least another fifty years. Oh, and by the way, your next line is 'but no one knows how long they'll live'."

"But, no one knows how long they'll live," Willow said, covering her mouth and gasping as she realized it. Even Oscar seemed impressed by thatm noting Maria's ability.

"See, I know what I'm doing," Maria held her hands up in a gesture that meant nonchalance. "Now, let's go beat up some rock humans or whatever. I got some food to get with grampa Tai and he'll kill me if I'm late, so let's hurry this up so that I don't get yelled at again."

"This one is strange," Willow noted with admiration. "But, I suppose she's capable."

"She's an idiot," Oscar grimaced. "She'll be the death of all of us. Now, let's go."

The four stole their way through the moonlit cavern, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of the Grimmlords that had formerly been encased there. Raven stayed at the back, knowing she was going to be useless in a fight of Aura that would be required. Cinder was her evidence for that and she was arguably in her prime then. She sighed with a heavy heart in the back of her mind hoping that she would make it back home safe to her loved ones.

The cavern ahead seemed to widen out a lot, with many mining tools to be seen in the area, as well as an elevator.

"What's that up ahead?" Willow pointed to a group of three humanoid figures who were standing in the way ahead. They seemed quite large, taller than any man. Maria made a move to run up, but Raven pulled her back.

"Don't you dare," Raven hissed. "You can't just rush in there to fight them. You'll be killed. There's three of them and even if they were only as strong as Lionheart, you couldn't take on three at once."

"We have to do something," Maria hissed back as the three muscular beings turned to face them.

"Looks like we have survivors," The one with a mustache leered at them. "I had assumed that they were all dead."

"These were not here earlier," The other male spoke.

"It really matters not," The female waved dismissively. "They are no threat."

"You, Grimmlord!" Maria shouted, pointing at them. "You're asses are going down for killing those soldiers!"

"Looks like this human is unaware of her place," The female looked at Maria. "Hazel, show her a small taste of her death."

"Yes, Mistress Salem," The one called Hazel walked forward with a purpose, Willow stepping in front of him.

"You must pay the price for destroying my squadron," The soldier spoke with authority. "You must die in the name of the fatherland."

However, Hazel walked past her. For the first two seconds after he did, Willow just stood there in shock that she was ignored. The next three were filled with her screams of agony as a strange dust began to come up from her mouth, nose, and ears. Her body began convulsing, lumps moving around as if she was made of Jell-O. With one final scream of Oscar's name, she exploded, a shower of blood raining down on the group.

Oscar stared at the scene of his best friend exploding, dropping to his knees and looking at his hands. He felt so useless in that moment; his body wouldn't respond to him and he had no idea what was happening to Willow. Sitting in front of him was a locket, the cover broken open and a picture of Willow standing next to a man in a suit with a small girl standing in front of them.

Tears came to his eyes as he looked down at it. His sadness then morphed into anger as he looked toward the one called Hazel. His Aura burst into vision as he summoned it, a powerful wind whipping up.

At this, the eyes of every one of the Grimmlords was on him, focused intently.

"Well, well, that looks like Aura," The female said, though it was more a tone of mild surprise than the fear Oscar was hoping his revelation of his power would bring. "I could have sworn we killed them all off millennia ago."

"We did," The other male looked. "I suppose they're like cockroaches, multiplying in the face of destruction. I suppose we could just kill this one off, finally put ourselves at ease."

"You will not make a fool of me!" Oscar shouted, pointing as his Aura crackled around him. "You will pay for killing Willow."

"You humans and your attachments," The woman gave a slight and mocking chuckle. "Perhaps you should just run. In fact, if you choose to run now, your death shall be painless."

"Do not underestimate me, you bitch!" Oscar shouted as the wind around him whipped more violently.

"Mistress Salem," Hazel spoke up. "Shall I defeat him before we search for the stone?"

"We are leaving now," The woman, Salem, turned around, hair flowing behind her as she moved. "You shall take no more time than you need to wipe the last of the Aura wielders from the face of the earth.

"As you command Mistress Salem, it shall be done."

Oscar grit his teeth in anger, glaring at the massive man before him. He certainly wasn't going to let him get away with killing his best friend. This fight would end with one of them dying in cold blood.

Raven stood back, Maria standing where Hazel was, watching as Hazel and Oscar stood in front of each other.

"I hope that this will be a battle in which we enjoy the taste of blood and strength," Hazel said to Oscar. "Prepare your last will, boy, so that you leave no regrets behind as we fight."

"You're going straight to hell, you bastard!" Oscar shouted as he ran forward to meet Hazel in battle.

And, so fate has brought the wielders of Aura to their greatest foe yet. Who shall prevail victorious? I suppose we shall see what fate has in store.