Chapter 31: I have no idea what's going on, but enjoy anyway!
[Skara begins to laugh evilly]
Skara: Ah Luz Noceda! With you here I can finally accomplish what I was built to do! And eliminate you all from existence!
[Skara releases her aura and summons her Spirit Power!]
Raymond: What the?!
Luz: Wait, she has Spirit Power?!
Raymond: What do we do?
Luz: It looks like Skara and Viper aren't going to back down. So right now it'd be best to work together.
Raymond: I mean since no one is here I guess it makes sense.
Luz: Alright let's go!
[You're probably wondering what's going on. To explain, why don't we start with a recap of what happened in the previous chapter].
[Basically Watts' released some sort of bug that gives a student an evil persona which can be transferred by contact. So Shatter Squad is trying to contain it, so why we don't we start with that]
Gus: I don't get it. Why am I the bait?!
Willow: According to Coco, it's after students from Shatter Squad. And judging by their personality it will attach itself on it's target once they make contact.
Gus: That doesn't explain why I'm the bait!
Willow: Well if it were to take my body Coco said I would overpower everyone, if it took over Edric then he'd outrun everyone, Emira would burn the whole place down, and Amity, that's a subject we wouldn't want to get involved with. So you are our best option since yours doesn't involve that much destruction.
Gus: *groans* Fine! Lay the plan over with me!
Coco: It's simple, once you've been possessed Willow will use her plant arrow to create a sleeping gas that will immobilize you. Then Edric will tie you in rope, and that's when I will extract the item responsible for all this chaos.
Gus: That's it?
Coco: Yes.
[A pair of eyes closes in on Gus]
Gus: Okay? So what do I just keep walking around till someone till someone just touches me, or will there be struggling involved?
[a hand suddenly latches on to Gus's shoulder]
Willow: Gus behind you!
Gus: Huh?
[revealed to be Amelia she begins to push him down as Gus struggles to fight back!]
Amelia: Gotcha!
Gus: AHH! Guys I found her!
[The bug transfers itself into Gus's body]
Gus: *evil* MWAHAHAHAHA! I finally got it!
Coco: Willow now!
[Willow readies her arrow but is struck down by Gus's yoyo]
Gus: So long sucker!
Coco: Crap! Time for plan B!
[Willow nods to Coco and she starts moving fast]
Gus: You'll never take me alive! HAHAHA!
Willow: I'd think twice before you say that!
[Willow jumps forward and tackles her friend]
Willow: Sorry Gus!
[Willow suddenly punches him in the face]
Gus: Ow! My face!
Coco: Keep punching him!
Willow: What?
Coco: One more punch should knock him out!
[Willow looks down at Gus and cringes at the hurt that will be brought upon him]
Willow: I'm so sorry!
[Willow Punches him again]
Gus: AH! My spleen!
Coco: One more time!
Willow: COCO!
Coco: Don't worry I can heal him!
[Willow punches him one more time]
Gus: My stomach! You know what, forget this!
[The bug latches itself onto Willow's body]
Coco: Willow?
[Willow begins to laugh and turns around to look at Coco]
Willow: There is no Willow!
[the evil Willow begins to crack her knuckles]
Willow: Now it's time for you to drop and give me infinity!
[Willow launches a punch at Coco forcing her to fly back]
Coco: Oh no!
Willow: Let's dance Coco!
[Coco darts her eyes at Willow legs and attempts to sweep her]
[her leg comes in contact with Willow's calf]
Coco: *pain* AGH! How hard are your legs?!
[Willow throws another punch on the ground, Coco avoids in time]
Coco: Oh dear!
[Coco flees]
Willow: Hey where are you going?!
Coco: I need to come up with a new plan!
Edric: Don't worry! I got this!
Coco: Edric, don't!
[Edric runs circles around Willow and ties her up in rope]
Edric: Hahah! How do you like that?!
[Willow's arm break out of the rope and begins to strangle Edric with her arm]
Willow: That speed of yours is exhilarating! Maybe I can put it to good use!
[The bug possesses Edric]
[Edric steps back a bit]
Coco: Edric you okay?!
[Edric suddenly opens his eyes]
Willow: Uh oh.
[Edric turns slowly and breathes deep]
[he sighs]
Coco: Do you feel different?
Edric: *tired* Mwahahahahaha! *yawn* Whoa, I have the sudden urge to conquer the universe. But that would take some work. I think I'm gonna take a nap.
[Edric falls down and begins to sleep]
Willow: *shocked* What the heck just happened? Shouldn't he have been out of here?
Coco: Hmm from the looks of it, I guess the bug just reacts to their inner evil. And Edric's inner evil is being lazy.
[Willow gives an annoyed expression]
Willow: I guess it was easier than I thought.
Gus: Ugh! Easy for you to say!
[Gus walks up to Willow with a black eye]
Willow: *guilty* Ooooo. Hey Gus.
Gus: *angry* He~ey.
Coco: I guess we can just extract it from Edric and all's well that ends well.
[coco prepares preparations for extraction until Raymond and Skara interrupt]
Raymond: Coco!
Coco: Oh Raymond. Thank god you're here. I need help extracting something from Edric.
Raymond: Can that wait? I need to see West!
Coco: Don't worry this will only be quick!
Raymond: But I really need to talk to him.
Coco: about?
Raymond: You know the Runes we got, I managed to decode them an-
Coco: You decoded them! That's Raymond for ya! What did you find?
Raymond: I think right now it would be best if everyone listens to this because this is not what we were expecting.
[While Raymond and Skara converse, Skara takes a look at Edric sleeping]
Skara: What's wrong with him?
[Skara winces closer]
[Skara pokes his face, and Edric slaps her hand, forcing the bug to transfer itself into Skara]
Raymond: But I think Luz might know a thing for two about this.
Skara: (Hmm? About what?)
Coco: It makes sense, since Luz has the potential to be stronger than Arthur.
(Evil Skara widens her eyes at this revelation)
Skara: (Stronger than Arthur, now this I can work with)
[Skara walks away from the rest as she begins to search for Luz]
Coco: Alright let's get this bug out of Edric and find Luz.
[Edric immediately wakes up and screams]
Edric: AHHHHHH! WHAT HAPPENED?!
[The squad stand there confused and Willow picks him up to ask him a question]
Willow: Edric, do you feel evil?
Edric: Why did the bug possess me, cause after that I think I fell asleep.
[Gus looks around and notices that Skara is missing]
Gus: Hold on a second, where's Skara?
[Willow then does the same]
Coco: Don't tell me.
Willow: YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! WE JUST PUT IT DOWN!
Coco: Let's just look for her.
[And that's it ended up in Skara, now I'll explain what happened with Luz and Viper since that's the part we began with]
[Luz blocks every bolt of lightning thrown at her, each one reemerged into the best assassin from Meta and immediately transforms back after attacking.]
Luz: I know why we haven't fought in a while, but now I'm starting to remember how annoying you are.
[Viper reemerges once more to land a scratch, Luz puts up an ice shield to block]
Viper: *pissed* I'm the annoying one, at least I don't go streaking around naked in front of the enemy!
[Viper breaks through the ice but is met with a fireball that lands on impact]
Luz: *embarrassed* We both know that was your fault and you know it!
[Luz paces towards her opponent, and whacks her with her staff]
[Viper is smacked in the face, but she counters with another claw attack]
[both weapons touch and are at a standstill]
Viper: Why are you such a pain in the ass?!
Luz: Me? I'm not the one going around killing innocent people and doing whatever the hell it is you assholes are up to!
[Both push each other back]
Luz: I mean why do you work for that guy?! If you're just collecting armour pieces that's fine. But if there is ulterior motive for all this bloodshed, then shouldn't we stop One?
[Viper remembers everything One did for her. And is angered by Luz's doubts in the one who saved her]
Viper: You wouldn't understand! One saved me, and he is going to achieve the ultimate power and make every world in his image!
[Viper pulls Luz's staff closer. Embracing it under her arm]
Viper: And you will be the first to witness it!
Luz: That sounds like the plot of an antagonist! It's an obvious trope!
[Luz headbutts Viper forcing her to let go of the staff and fall back]
[Luz spins her staff and manages her breath]
Luz: Time to end this!
[Just before Luz can finish her off, she hears screaming, and causes a distraction for both fighters, they look in the direction the noise is coming from, and it is none other than Skara]
Skara: *EVIL* HAHAHAHAHAHAH! At last I have found you Luz Noceda, and now you will be mine!
Luz: *confused* Skara?
[Raymond chases her from behind]
Raymond: Luz, don't let her touch you!
Luz: What?
[Just before Raymond can tell her again, Skara immediately latches on to Luz and attempts to take control of her body]
Raymond: NO!
Viper: SHIT!
[After a few seconds of hugging Luz, the evil Skara is confused]
Luz: Uh what's going on?
Raymond: Wait what?
Skara: Hmm?
[Skara continues to squeeze Luz]
Skara: Why isn't this working?!
Luz: Skara, if this is some sort of type of hugging, I'm all for it, but I think you're squeezing me too tight!
[All three of them are shocked]
Raymond: Luz, you don't feel different?
Luz: Am I supposed to?
Raymond: You don't feel the least bit evil?
Luz: *awkward* Oh, uh mwahahahaha. Nope nothing.
[Skara let's go and pushes Luz away]
Skara: Ah screw this! I don't need you to be powerful! Cause I got myself a Spirit Power user already!
[Raymond helps Luz up and watches as Skara awakens her aura]
Skara: Come! Spirit Power! MUSICIANS OF BREMEN!
[Skara's light pink aura appears, and revealing themselves are four animals stacked atop one another. A donkey holding a drum set, and on his shoulders is a Dog with an electric Guitar, and on his shoulders is a Cat with a Keytar, and on the cat's head is a Rooster with a trumpet]
Luz: What the heck?! When did this happen?!
Raymond: Oh yeah, it I remember now.
[A couple of days ago, West was watching the bard track perform their latest piece, and then Raymond came in an added a guitar solo, which annoyed some people, but then Skara joined in and sang the lyrics Raymond wrote she has a nice voice btw, and then somehow her Spirit Power awakened. If you're wondering why I didn't write this down, I'll probably write it in a separate fic because something like that won't fit in a video game storyline, but if you guys think I should put it in, then let me know. Anyway]
Luz: So you're telling me Skara had a Spirit Power this whole time?!
Raymond: Yeah, and I may have made her a costume three days ago.
Luz: WHAT?!
[Skara takes out her canister and places it around her waist, causing a transformation, Skara is shown to wear a bard colored tank top revealing her stomach, Denim jean short-shorts, bard colored Arm braces and thigh high socks, with some leather boots, white suspenders, an amplifier on her shoulder, black gloves and tiny instrument accessories for her belt]
Luz: *annoyed* You have got to be kidding me!
[Luz notices Viper getting back up]
[Skara begins to laugh evilly]
Skara: Ah Luz Noceda! With you here I can finally accomplish what I was built to do! And eliminate you all from existence!
[Skara releases her aura and summons her Spirit Power!]
Raymond: What the?!
Luz: Wait, she has Spirit Power?!
Raymond: What do we do?
Luz: It looks like Skara and Viper aren't going to back down. So right now it'd be best to work together.
Raymond: I mean since no one is here I guess it makes sense.
Luz: Alright let's go! Wait a sec, can you even fight?
Raymond: Oh please!
[Raymond unlocks his aura]
Raymond: Spirit Power! Great Scientist! Albert Einstein!
[Albert Einstein emerges from the Aura and prepares Raymond for Combat]
Raymond: It may not be a combat type, but I have a few accessories!
[Raymond summons two barriers and wraps them around his hands]
Raymond: Shield gloves!
[Luz is amazed]
Luz: ALRIGHT! NOW WE'RE TALKING!
[Skara puts the microphone to her mouth]
Raymond: Watch out!
Skara: BOOM!
[Skara yells into the Microphone and an explosion appears out of nowhere]
[Luz and Raymond are forcibly pushed back]
Luz: WHAT WAS THAT?!
Raymond: It's Skara's ability, Music Blast! Any sound effect she makes with the instruments in her arsenal will affect us.
Luz: That's kind of overpowered!
Raymond: I'll see if there is a way around it.
[Just then, Viper appears out of nowhere and ambushes the both of them]
[Raymond puts up his shield in time but Viper is mostly focused on Luz]
[with every Scratch from Viper's claws, comes a parry from Luz's Staff]
[Raymond then jumps from behind her and grapples her]
Viper: Hey get off me!
Raymond: Damnit! She fights like a bear!
[Skara summons the horses Donkey's drum]
Skara: Megaboom!
[A huge explosion comes out of nowhere separating the two]
Viper: *Annoyed* Hey watch where you're aiming asshole!
[Skara switches to her Guitar and strikes it]
Skara: SCRATCH!
[Viper senses the attack and immediately dodges]
[Raymond is then given a huge cut to his torso]
Raymond: *in pain* GAGH!
[she faces Luz and performs the attack once more]
Skara: Scratch!
[Luz puts up an ice wall but is still affected]
Luz: *pain* AGH!
[Skara switches to her drum and smash it]
Skara: BOOM!
[Luz and Raymond are blown away again by the explosion from Skara]
[Luz lands safely, but Viper comes from above and tries to stab Luz, Luz barrel rolls and sweeps Viper. Viper backflips and lands on her feet and tries again, Luz whacks her jab with her staff and kicks back up uses a plant glyph to subdue her]
Viper: Not gonna work!
[Viper swiftly spazzes her Claws around and shreds the Vines]
Luz: Okay then how about this!
[Luz uses a lightning glyph to fire a lighting bolt]
[Viper is hit and flies backwards]
Luz: HAHA!
Skara: BOOM!
[Luz is met with an explosion to her face]
Skara: BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
[Luz is hit with three more Explosions!]
Luz: This is starting to get annoying!
[Viper comes back, however is unable to attack Luz. Raymond comes in and tackles her]
Viper: Oh does the fat boy want to play now?!
Raymond: I am not fat! I'm big boned!
[Viper leaps into the Air and forms a spinning blade]
[Raymond summons his Shield and protects himself]
[Viper rapidly spins and begins to break through the barrier]
Raymond: Einstein, lend me your power!
[Raymond eyes light up and activates his Opponent Analysis to scan for weaknesses]
Raymond: Got it!
[Raymond drops his shield forcing Viper to comet towards him]
Raymond: Now let's see how you like being trapped!
[Raymond jumps out of the way and wraps Viper in his shield]
Raymond: HAHA! GOTCHA!
[Viper transforms into Lightning bolt to escape, but isn't able to]
Viper: Why isn't this working!
Raymond: Figured you can use your power anywhere. But you can't use it in a confined space can you?
Viper: *annoyed* YOU SON OF A BITCH! LET ME OUT OF HERE!
[Raymond chuckles a bit]
Raymond: You Meta guys may have brains in Combat, but I have brains in strategy.
[Luz gets back up and sees Skara about to play a chord]
Luz: Raymond, look out!
Raymond: Huh?
Skara: ZAP!
[Raymond is hit with a bolt of electricity]
Raymond: OW!
[Skara taps a key on her Keytar]
Skara: AND ZAP AGAIN!
[Raymond is strike with more electricity]
Raymond: AGH!
[Luz hurdles towards Skara and tackles her]
Skara: HEY LET GO OF ME HUMAN!
Luz: Raymond! Get up!
[Raymond struggles to push himself back up, but has enough power to use his opponent analysis]
Raymond: it's that easy huh? Luz!
[Luz responds]
Luz: Raymond are you alright?
Raymond: I'm fine! But I think I got a gist of how to counter Skara's power! Just cover your ears!
Luz: WHY?
Raymond: Her attacks will only affect you if you hear her music!
Luz: So blocking it out means I won't get hurt!
[Luz uses plant magic to create earplugs made from vines]
Luz: That should do it!
[Luz jumps back up and prepares to fight]
Skara: Let's see how you like this!
[Skara summons her trumpet]
Skara: BLOW!
[Skara blows into the trumpet and makes a loud horn noise]
[Luz is unaffected]
Skara: What?!
Luz: Hey, it worked!
[Luz walks slowly to evil Skara]
Skara: *SCARED* No! Stay back!
[Skara plays multiple instruments, but none of them work]
Luz: Sorry about this Skara!
[Luz then punches her in the face knocking her out and falling on her back]
Luz: Well that was easy.
[Luz turns to Raymond just to see him out cold]
Luz: Raymond!
[Luz runs to his aid, and so multiple student join her and surround the insect and Viper]
[Raymond's shield is off and releases Viper]
Viper: *tired* Dammit I can't deal with this right now.
Amity: HEY!
Viper: Hmm?
Amity: Stay right where you are!
Viper: *sigh* Hey Luz!
[Luz turns to Viper and is suddenly met with her lips locking with hers]
[Amity screams in shock and envy]
[viper breaks the kiss and caresses Luz's face]
Viper: *amused* Things are less apathetic when you're around, so next time we meet, I'll show you everything I have, just to make things fair.
[Amity hears those words and wonders what that even means]
[Luz on the other hand is just confused]
Viper: Anyway,
[Viper grabs the insect and places it in a jar]
Viper: I'll be going now! See you later.
[Viper winks at Luz, causes her to blush]
[She then turns into a bolt of lightning and scurries away]
Amity: HEY GET BACK HERE!
[Amity chooses to ignore Viper and checks on Luz]
[Luz falls to her knees]
Amity: Luz are you alright?
[Luz faces Amity with confusion]
Luz: What just happened?
[Hours later the gang gets together to discuss the events of today]
West: So just to be clear, the reason why some people turned "evil" is because Watts sent a bug in here.
[Luz nods]
Luz: Yes.
A.X.E.L.: And Viper was sent to retrieve the bug?
[Luz nods again]
Luz: Yes.
West: Is there anything else we should know about?
Luz: Uhm.
[Luz thinks back to Viper seeing something she wasn't supposed to see, causing Luz to turn red]
Luz: *embarrassed* nope nothing at all.
West: Alright then. I guess that settles it.
[As West continues talking Amity sees the embarrassed look on Luz's face]
Amity: (Oh please Luz, something else happened. If Viper said she would show you everything to make things even, that can only mean one thing)
[Amity makes a fist and begins to have a nose bleed]
Amity: (THAT BITCH SAW EVERYTHING! BUT IT'S NOT LIKE I WANT TO SEE IT! BUT MAYBE I DO, MAYBE I DON'T! DAMMIT WHY IS EVERYONE GETTING AHEAD OF ME! I GOTTA UP MY GAME!)
[While Amity thinks to herself, Willow, Gus, Viney, and Coco, tend to the wounds of Luz and Raymond]
Viney: You're telling me Skara did this?
Luz: It's a lot to take in but yeah. Skara gave me and Raymond these wounds.
[Raymond screams in pain as Coco and Skara tend to his wounds]
Raymond: OW! Please be gentle! These wounds aren't small cuts you know!
Coco: Oh please, if you figured out Skara's weakness sooner. Then you wouldn't be in this mess!
Skara: *apologetic* I am so sorry! I don't know what came over me!
Luz: don't worry Skara, if anything, it was Watts' fault. So if you want revenge, he's all yours.
Skara: *sigh* Alright. Are you good Raymond?
Raymond: Honestly, these injuries aren't bad. Not the worst ones I got, but I think I can manage.
[Skara grabs his hand]
Skara: I just hope it doesn't happen again.
Raymond: Hey as long as you're my partner, It won't ever happen again.
[Skara blushes and smiles]
[Lilith interrupts]
Lilith: Sorry to ruin the moment, but if I may.
[Lilith turns to Raymond]
Lilith: you told us that you had information you wanted to share with us?
[Raymond gets up]
Raymond: Oh yeah that's right. Skara and I got the full blueprints for the portal.
[Everyone is shocked and amazed]
Raymond: But it's not a portal to the human realm.
Luz: Wait what?
[Raymond pulls the blueprints out of his bag and opens them]
Raymond: While Skara and I were decoding the runes, we stumbled upon something called "The God Realm".
[West is shocked by the name, while everyone else is confused]
Eda: The God Realm? What the hell is that?
Coco: According to legend, it's the birthplace of all Spirit Power.
Eda: Oh. So why is it a shock?
A.X.E.L.: No one's actually been to the God realm. Let alone live to tell the tale.
Eda: But why do we have it? Didn't you say it was a portal to the human realm.
Raymond: That's where it gets confusing. Arthur was the one who suggested we get the information. Claiming it might be a portal back to the human realm.
Lilith: So you're saying Arthur led you to believe this?
Raymond: Affirmative.
Willow: But did he say why though?
Gus: Yeah, it's not like him to lie to us.
King: He's never told a lie in his life. At least that's what Luz tells me.
West: Regardless. If this portal really leads to the God realm. We need to find out why Arthur wanted us to make this. And where he got this information from. So once he wakes up, I'll take him in for questioning.
Luz: But wait, Arthur isn't bad though. Maybe he made a mistake?
A.X.E.L.: Hate to break it to you kid, but Arthur never makes mistakes.
Luz: Yeah but he wouldn't lie to us.
[Eda places her hand on Luz's shoulder]
Eda: I'm sorry Luz, but I agree with them. He has been acting suspicious lately.
Luz: no he hasn't!
Eda: He has, I know you haven't noticed, but I think we should listen to them. And we are not going to hurt Arthur, we're just going to ask him a few questions. I promise.
[Luz looks down and just nods]
Luz: Alright. Just don't hurt him.
[Amity watches Luz and begins to feel that her suspicions about Arthur were right, all that was left to do was find out what Arthur's plan really was.]
Amity: *suspicious* (What are you really hiding, Arthur.)
[Meanwhile at Meta's lair, Watts is beaten down again]
One: You disobey me again!
[one belts him in the stomach]
Watts: I'm sorry my liege, but if you heard my reasons..
One: I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR DAMN REASONS! YOU WENT OUT OF LINE AGAIN! AND PUT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS AT RISK!
[One grabs the collar of Watts and lifts him up]
One: If you disobey me one more time. I can promise you nothing of you will be left. You understand!
Watts: *scared* YES MASTER!
One: Now get out of my sight!
[Watts then limps back to his lab]
One: Viper!
Viper: Yes Commander?
One: You are saying Luz wasn't affected by Watts' power?
Viper: I saw it all.
One: Interesting.
Viper: Would you happen to know why this happened?
[One walks past Viper]
One: I believe I have a theory, but that. Is a story for another time. Run along now, we have to begin preparations. Mohawk and Pyro will return with the Blight girl soon. And I need you to get ready. Is that clear?
[One tightens his grip on Viper's shoulder]
Viper: Yes commander.
One: Don't let me down.
[One releases his grip and Viper leaves the room]
Viper: *sigh*
[Viper walks into an empty room where no one can hear or find her, she then pulls out a crystal and taps it]
Viper: Strike the shield.
[Static can be heard from the Crystal until a voice pops up]
Ronin: Break the Iron. Hey Serpent. How was the mission going?
Viper: it was like you said. It can't be affected by mind control.
Ronin: I told you so. Do you have information on their next target?
Viper: They are after the youngest Blight.
Ronin: Hmm. I see. Carry on with your mission. And find out where they are bringing the armour. That will be all.
Viper: Yes Commander over and out.
[Viper taps the crystal to shut it off]
Viper: *sigh* What a pain.
End