WE'RE BACK FOLKS! 😄🎉🎉🎉🎉

I must keep this short because I must wake up in the morning for a matinee I managed to book. And thanks to my boss at work for letting me take the day off to see this film! WOOHOOO! 😁. 🎉🎉

#SPIDER-MAN FOREVER!

"What film? Monster Rumble?" Maverick teased. (This is Aiden's Maverick)

"Matrix Resurrection?" The other Maverick of this story teased.

You can both eat FARTS! I'm obviously talking about 'Spider-Man No Way Home'. I have a lot of expectations and hopes for this movie and the ratings are a good sign.

Anyway. This chapter won't be based on a episode from Tangled. Instead it will be an original episode I came up with for this story. This willbe a habbit for events that happened in between episodes so I digress. 👍

You will also get a little more background details on Orion and Friday's origins at the beginning along with a song from 'The Greatest Showman'. Which I think is perfect timing given Zendaya is in the movie I'm about to see.

I got the title of this chapter from a famous Deadpool fan film and I used a few scenes from it. 😉

And also in honor of Spider-Man. I will pay tribute to his first movie in a special way at the end. ❤️❤️ ️ ️ ️ ️

For now let's answer some comments.

superkoola: Yep. As my Dad always says. When life hands you an epic dragon battle, you don't question it. Also yes, Orion has mental nerves of steel. He'll never give up on the girl he adores. Also thanks again for pointing out the typo for me.

olehbilenko93: Thank you! O appreciate your support.

RustyPete12: Yep. I have a lack of writing heart and drama into a story like this. Orion's early life wasn't easy. But as I probably said before, every dark cloud has a silver lining. As for what Lash might cook up next. Let me know if you have any ideas for some new robotic monsters. Also as for Lash's intentions plans. You'll find out soon. But there is a classic Marvel villain in this chapter. I'll give you a hint. It's a villain that was refurbished as a woman in the MCU. 😉

Also I would like to thank you Alton. For helping me make this chapter work and being my Co-Writer for this story. 👍😁

Alright. Now that we're all here.

LET'S GET DANGEROUS! 😎


Maverick's Typical Tuesday.

Four years back on Tirapai Island…

Orion wasn't always the confident witty armor keyblader that his friends came to know him as. The day after the attack on the boat. When he lost his family and his sister Trish. His lifeboat washed up on the shore of an island. A strange island with weird little creatures that where leaves for a face. And probably made of green. These creatures were called the Lorbs. They came to Orion's aid. Including Groot and a Young Friday.

Back in those days, she was living on that island for three years ever since her Kree mother sent Friday away on an escape pod. To escape the Kree for their aggressive disapproval of half breeds. Friday never wanted to leave the island, because she was afraid of how the world would look at her. That and she didn't know how to shape shift back then.

So she was at a disadvantage

Until Orion showed up on the island. After grieving for his family and sister passed. He decided to go into training as the Lorbs kept urging him to do, since he now had the Maverick's ring when he showed up.

Or as the Lorbs call The 'GleemanGlowban' which is technically their weird language for Maverick. Thankfully Friday translated that for him.

One day the month before Friday and Orion left the Island with Groot. Friday was still having doubts about leaving because of her form. But Orion always thought Friday was very pretty. He never cared that she was a blue alien girl. She was no less alive than he was.

Orion's Maverick training was nearly complete and the Lorbs were soon going to teach him how to shift into the Armor.

Until then they lived each day together with the Lorbs as Orion's grief was slowly fading with each passing month. For two years Orion lived on that Island. Wearing just a pair of green shorts like swim trunks. While being shirtless and bare foot like an island boy from Hawaii. Since his clothes were torn on the lifeboat. While Friday was wearing a white floral themed tank top and a matching skirt just above the knees and was barefoot.

They didn't mind since they're on a tropical themed island with no other people around or 'frienfloofers' as the Lorbs call humans.

One day in the afternoon. Friday was sitting on the beach looking out at the horizon. Wondering what life will be like for her when she leaves the island. Her mother died to defend her and she has nothing out there. Everything and everyone she loves is on that island. And she wasn't ready.

Orion came up and sat next to her after a morning jog and using neon weights to build up his ten year old muscles.

He sat and was looking out wondering what she was seeing.

"Something on your mind?" Orion asked her.

Friday looked over for a second before answering.

"I….I Just needed some air." Friday told him while still looking at the sunset.

"You mean the stuff that's everywhere? I'm pretty sure Groot is a living can of Aerosol spray." Orion mused as he didn't buy it. "What's really on your mind?"

Friday could never lie to Orion. He was the only kid on the island like her. And she felt safe to talk to him. And she mildly giggled at the joke.

"Alright…..I'm thinking about the future." Friday said.

Orion listened in.

"I still don't think I'll be accepted out there. People won't know me so they'll reject me." Friday stated while looking at her blue hand.

"I barely knew you when we met. And I didn't reject you." Orion pointed out.

"That's because you're you. As for the others, I still have doubts." Friday said as she went back to look at the horizon.

Orion sighed as he was thinking of how to respond with his hands clasped together. Than he thought of something to respond to that.

"You know. The blue girl I met on an island. Once told me to never let anything or anyone stand between me and my heart. If that includes people than why tell me that if you're not following you're own advice?" Orion stated.

"I'm not-" Friday wanted to say but stopped when Orion took her hand and held it gently.

"If people take one look at us and hate us, let them. They're opinions and perspective are limited to believing that they're is only one world and one sky." Orion stated out of wisdom. "And they don't get to keep that sky for just them."

In spite of Orion's touching words. She then says. "I...I just don't know what the future will hold for us." A single tear came down from Friday's left eye.

"I do." Orion smiled as the magic of Fantasia began to surround the island.

Friday blushed as Orion wiped that single tear off and she looked at him with intrigue.

"I close my eyes~ And I can see~ A World that's waiting up for me~ That I call my own~" Orion sang before he stood up and reached down for the blue girl to take his hand.

Friday smiled and took his hand as they started walking together down on the island.

The two children walk past the palm trees feeling the warm sand on their bare feet as they dead deeper to the uncharted parts. Admiring the tropical exotic scenery as Orion continues to sing.

"Through the dark~ Through the door~ Through where no one's been before~ But it feels like home~" Orion sang as they came up to a pile of boulders blocking their path.

Orion and Friday climbed over the builders and found the entrance of a large damp cave which made Orion and Friday eager as they smirked mischievously at each other. Then they ran inside together going down a tunnel and across a cavern with water going just up high enough to their ankles. Until they ended up at the end of a cave which had such an amazing set up with small ponds with light emulating from every one of them. And a small oasis in the middle surrounded by water with a palm tree.

It was like a secret tropical club for them.

"They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy~ They can say, they can say I've lost my mind~" Orion continued singing as they looked around.

Then he floated while holding Friday with her arms around him as he flew over and landed on the oasis. And he bent down and held his hand over the water as his hand started glowing blue and green.

"I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy~ We can live in a world that we design~" Orion sang as his neon powers caused the whole cave to eliminate like stars on the ceiling and the walls were doing the same. Even the water was glowing like an aquatic light show.

And then the lights began to shift and display images of Orion and Friday flying together. And another image of Orion fighting monsters with his keyblades. And another image of Kingdom Hearts itself.

"Cause every night I lie in bed!~ The brightest colors fill my head!~ A million dreams are keeping me awaaaake!~" Orion sang as the images kept shifting. "I think of what the world could be!~ A vision of the one I see!~ A million dreams is all it's gonna taaaaaake!~"

Then Friday giggled and marveled at the images as she turned around and had a look of intrigue while staring at Orion's face which looked like he was glowing to her. Really it was the butterflies in her stomach telling her she's becoming attracted to him as he smiled at her.

"Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make~" Orion sang softly to her.


After that moment…..

Orion resumed his training in the outdoor dojo just outside their tree house. Where there was a training ring surrounded by palm trees and the Lorbs hanging from the branches close above the dojo. Alfons and the other Lorbs were coaching Orion on how to use the keyblades properly, as he stood in front of Orion who was standing in attention.

"Alright GleemanGlowban! A true warrior has to know what elements to use and what not to use. As the targets trop. Shoot fire at red and ice at blue. Water at white and thunder at black." Alfons stated the object of the course.

"Why black for thunder?" Orion inquired.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT COLORS MAKE GRAY!" Jorn exclaimed from the trees.

"Okay little tropical Koroks. Give me your best shots." Orion posed as he summoned his keyblades.

Then as the Coconuts dropped from the trees and Orion would zap them with the right spells as he spun and flipped in the air. Groot would keep record of Orion's progress as he watched with the Lorbs

Friday would be sitting outside her window as held a stuffed animal which looked like a pink space rabbit. It was a gift from her mother and she never lost it.

Friday, called the stuffed rabbit toy Floris.

As she admired how Orion was making progress. She recalled what else he sang in the earlier cave.

"There's a house we can build~ Every room inside is filled~ With things from far away~" Orion sang about what their house would be like once they start to live together. "The special things I compile~ Each one there to make you smile~ On a rainy day~"

Friday smiled as her feelings for Orion were growing each day she lived with him on that island.


That night when it was raining on the island. Friday went out to walk alone. Which was fine, considering that there was no wildlife on the island that could attack them as she walked the path and felt the soft drops rain on her skin. She heard thunder in the distance. And a lightning strike over the horizon.

She remembered how her mother once told her that each Kree is born with a special element. That none can unlock. Unless it congeals with another special blood. Considering that her father was of the Skrull. It was only a matter of time before she discovered her electric abilities at a very young age. Which caused the Kree to come after her.

But Friday used to hate her powers because they got her exposed and caused her mother's death. But because Orion is special like her. She learned to accept who she is and what she can do.

Friday sooned realized her powers are not a curse. They're a gift that can do good for those who can't defend themselves.

Friday looked down at her hand and saw static on her fingers and took a deep breath before she held her hand out and struck a lone palm tree with Lightning

*Strike!*

She saw how her power caused the tree not to just light on fire. But to also incinerate into ashes.

"I didn't know you could do that." Friday heard someone say.

She turned around to see Orion standing there holding an open neon umbrella to keep himself dry. While he had a shocked expression as he was amazed to see his friend command lightning like that.

Orion never knew about her gift until now. And he was astonished.

"There's a lot you don't know about me. But I intend to share them with perfect timing." Friday said with a smile as her cheeks turned red.

"Does this mean we'll have to call you LiveWire from now on?" Orion quipped as he invited her to stand under the umbrella.

"Don't push it Sparky." Friday said in a threatening tone.

"Damn. That was gonna be my next nickname. I was gonna wait until you were old enough to wear a bikini and- I'm standing in water am I?" Orion's quip fell short as he was given a slight shock from her electrical current touching the water, which was enough to make him grimace as his hair stood up from being zapped.

Friday did that in response to his flirts, but thankfully the volts weren't enough to be fatal like a toaster in the bathtub..

"You ask for it." Friday said while keeping a smug grin on her face.

"Sorry Ma'am. Your electric bill is past due." Orion mumbled a bit while a bit of static traveled around his hair. And his skin was glowing neon before he fell to the ground.

Friday sighed and asked. "What am I gonna do with you?" As she looked at Orion's delirious state before helping him up to bring him back up to the tree house so they could sleep.


In the morning…...

Friday announced what power she has to all her friends. And they couldn't be more thrilled to hear it. The Lorbs agreed to grant her a place to train on the island, an area that was large and empty enough to practice her electric abilities. It was a large area in the shape of a circle like a fighting ring filled with wooden dummies that she can zap.

As Friday was flipping in the air with grace and poise as she zapped at the dummy with Lightning strikes and electric bolts. And as she was training, she felt the magic of Fantasia to continue the song with her pretty little voice.

"They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy~ They can say, they can say we've lost our minds~ I don't care, I don't care if they call us crazy~ Runaway to a world that we design~" Friday sang as she spun and zapped five dummies and continued as she ran through two rows of dummies and rained down lightning as she rain. "Every night I lie in bed!~ The brightest colors fill my head!~ A million dreams are keeping me awaaaaaake!~ I think of what the world could be!~ A vision of the one I see!~ A million dreams is all it's gonna taaaaake!~"

Orion was watching the entire time with intrigue as Friday masters her power over time.

Friday finished her training and huffed as she looked back at Orion and smiled. "Oh a million dreams for the world we're gonna make~"


Then over the past week...

Orion was standing in front of a ramp built on top of some high palm trees. As he was ready to finally shift in the armor.

"Now for this next part. Fly as you channel what's inside. Listen to the silence, and embrace it to shift." Alfons stated.

"That's pretty vague." Orion commented.

"Figure out the rest. If we tell you everything. You're not dependent on you." Alfons responded why he was giving little details.

Orion took a deep breath and shrugged before he took off flying in the air and did what Alfons said as he flew high enough to listen to the silence. As he was flying. He recalled all of those other nights when he and Friday would play around in the cave. Flying with her riding on his back or having splash wars as they went swimming.

"However big, however small~ Let me be part of it all~ Share your dreams with me~ You may be right, you may be wrong~ But say that you'll bring me along~ To the world you see~" Friday sang in the background of those memories in her current aged voice.

Then the current Orion and Friday sang together as the memories went on. "To the world I close my eyes to see!~ I close my eyes to seeeeeee!~"

Then Orion smiled as he flew high into the sky just at the edge of space. And he closed his eyes as the singing continued.

"Every night I lie in bed~ The brightest colors fill my head~" Orion sang.

Back down below. Friday was at a nearby pond practicing her ability to shape shift as she stared into her reflection. And pictured the image of what she wants to be as a human. This she did on her own because Orion inspired her to.

"A million dreams are keeping me awaaaaake~" Friday sang as her tan mixed race skin began to form and her pointy skrull ears shifted into normal human ears. She beamed and giggled joyfully as she gained her human form. And she ran across the sand to go and join Orion where he was going to land.

In this zone of joy and success. They both sang together. "A million dreams, a million dreams!~ I think of what the world could be!~ A vision of the one I see!~ A million dreams is all it's gonna taaaaaaaaaaaaake!~"

Then she saw Orion land on the ground. In his armored form. As the Maverick. Where all the Lorbs cheered. Maverick turned and was surprised to see Friday as a human. While she smiled warmly at the sight of her friend had finally finished his training.

"They're ready." Alfons smiled confidently among the group of Lorbs that were watching them from the trees.


Soon after that day…..

Orion and Friday had some new clothes on and were sailing on a neon ship as they and Groot were on board waving goodbye at the Lorbs who waved back while they were sailing away.

Then Orion and Friday smiled at each other as Friday reached up and touched his face.

"A million dreams for the world we're gonna make~" They both sang.

And then they finally kissed. Thus making themselves an official couple. Orion and Friday will go far and wide to find a place to call home together. And take on whatever life throws at them. Because they have each other and they'll find happiness together.


Four years later in Corona. Present day….Down at the Regnum Lucis Mansion…..

Tuesday...

After Orion Forge made his fortune at the Science Expo. He needed to move somewhere closer to Corona but under the radar. And sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight with a large profile. What better place is there than a beachfront manor?

The Regnum Lucis Mansion. The name is in Latin which means Kingdom of Light. The majority consisted of a large front courtyard made of rich white stone and a blend of beige The walkway leading up to the mansion was a matching stone path in between rich green trimmed grass and trees with different color flowers. And to top it all off. The back of the mansion was a large grass yard for running and other types of fun. With a close walk to the beach. With a few of the ocean for when the owner looks out the windows.

The mansion itself was of a 19th century style of stone and woodwork. But has a similar taste to most of the houses in Corona. Only richer. The interior would definitely match but that's not what was important.

The owner of the mansion was a middle aged gentleman with glasses as he was reading the newspaper about how Rapunzel saved Atilla from being sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. But that's another story.

The owner sees a much older Gentleman in a horse drawn wagon riding steadily up across the path. Curious, the owner folds the newspaper and walks up to the gentleman.

"Can I help you?" The owner asked, wondering what he was doing on his property.

"Good afternoon good Sir. I am here to purchase your lovely home." The Gentleman greeted and stated.

The owner raised an eyebrow before he burst out laughing and wheezing as he hunched over.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! YOU?! BUYING MY MANSION?!" The owner laughed and straighten himself up to threaten. "You couldn't even afford paint for that old wagon let alone my home. Now get off my property before I have you horsewhipped!"

While the owner was threatening him, the gentleman walked to the bag of the wagon and opened the hatch to show what was under the cover. And a large amount of gold and jewels poured and spilled out of the back. Showing that the wagon was filled with money.

The Owner was shocked as the gentleman stood by with a grin and his arms crossed.

"I'll go bring the deed and get my wife packing!" The owner shook the gentleman's hand laughing of joy as he hurried inside yelling "Gertrude! Gertrude! We finally made enough to move to Paris!"

Once the gentleman is inside, Orion teleported next to the gentleman with a smirk and a nice business suit with sunglasses on.

"And that. Is how you Wheel and Deal in Mav Town." Orion quipped.

The gentleman turned out to be Friday who's red glowing eyes gave Orion a bemused look.

"I hope we're not selling the souvenir shop to anyone who loves to gossip." Friday said while in her gentleman form.

"Don't worry, I found a perfect dork- I mean buyer. He doesn't know how to gossip without being a snooze pill. If you could go and complete the sale later. We'll be good to go." Orion assured as he patted the horse on the neck. "Thanks for volunteering Mad Max. You'll find your payment back in the stall.

The horse turned out to be Maximus who was wearing a holo-disguise Orion outfitted him with to make him look like a pale spotted horse. His 'payment' was actually a stack of caramel and chocolate candy apples.

Maximum smiled and wagged his tail while huffing a bit through his nostrils like a happy horse.

"I'll handle the buyer. But have you told Rapunzel about the move yet?" Friday asked.

"I have, multiple times actually . But she's been kinda busy since the expo. That Valentines Day Parody everyone celebrates with that book I forgot the name of. Losing her pet lizard. Not to mention that little fiasco with the crazy goat." Orion listed all the events he heard about. But he was there at the end of the last one. "I don't think my move has clicked with her yet."

He did actually help pay for the damages at Monty's Sweet Shoppe.

"Maybe we should give her a heads up." Friday suggested it.

"Already did. I told Groot to leave her a note." Orion agreed.

Just then Orion had to hide when they saw the gentleman come out with the deed to the mansion. From there all they needed to do was wrap up the basic steps to move in.

But while this was going on. Things were becoming complicated back at Rapunzel's home


Back at Corona Castle...

The kingdom was in a crisis. Not the kind that fully disturbs the peace of the public, but enough to cause some concerns and attention. There have been a series of recent abductions throughout the kingdom as several people didn't come in for work all week. The Kingdom is on alert as the Captain was on the case.

Inside the meeting room. King Frederic was standing and speaking with the Captain as he gave a full report analysis on the past kidnappings that have been going on in Corona.

"So far Your Majesty, the missing victims match the same pattern. They are all construction workers, carpenters, masons. Heck anyone that knows how to build." The Captain stated as he showed the missing people on the board.

"And how many workers are missing so far Captain?" Frederic asked.

"Today that makes about 15 workers, including the five that were taken outside of Corona." The captain answered grimly.

"Do we have names or possible leads on the kidnappers?" The king inquired as the number of missing victims disturbed him, but he didn't show it because a king must be strong and stay in a character of authority.

"No Your Majesty. I'm sorry to say. But the kidnappers have covered their tracks really well. No footprints or clues. But I've set patrols over possible areas where another kidnapping will take place. If they make another move we'll be there." The Captain answered and assured the King.

"I'm glad I never accepted my mom's advise to become a bathroom constructor." Pete whispered to Stan.

"My dad wanted me to be a barber. So it was already off the radar." Stan whispered back.

"Let me know if the situation changes, Captain." King Frederic responded.

"Will do Your Majesty." The Captain bowed.

"Dismiss." King Frederic stated as he walked out of the room where Rapunzel was standing and listening outside the door.

"Are they doing anything to find those people Dad?" Rapunzel asked her father. Since she could barely hear from behind the door being closed.

"We can only do what we can, Sweetheart. All we know is that they're kidnapped by an unknown group who never leave a trail." Frederic responded to her daughter while placing a hand on her shoulder.

"What if it's the Dark Mongers that are doing it?" Rapunzel asked.

"On the contrary Rapunzel. They leave only one trail. The Maverick does it for them." Frederic stated with a frown.

"Listen, Dad? I know what we talked about. But why are you so against the Maverick?" Rapunzel asked her dad in a calm voice.

"Rapunzel..." Frederic sighed as he closed his eyes and spoke clearly. "I am not against anyone with the intention of helping those in need. But we don't know the Maverick. And someone with that amount of power has to be taken with absolute certainty."

A part of Rapunzel felt relieved that her Dad doesn't hate Orion, but the other part felt a bit worried, she knew that her father was doing what's right for the kingdom, but when he ordered a man hunt for the Maverick, she tended to be concerned. For Orion's sake.

"My decision to bring him in for questioning hasn't changed. But given the reports of the lives he saved recently. I'll be willing to listen to him in person, if he demonstrates a mutual respect for authority and order." Frederic stated firmly.

Showing that he is open to hearing it from him.

"That's good to hear." Rapunzel whispered to herself so that her Dad couldn't hear it. She could finally relax knowing that if Orion were to show the King that they're both on the same side, then he probably will off the manhunt.

"And I hope this doesn't lead to anything about those rocks." Frederic said with a stern paternal look.

"I know Dad. It's okay. I wasn't going to bring it up or lead up to it." Rapunzel said brushing off the subject.

Frederic softened up and gave his daughter a sympathetic look.

"I know this whole ordeal about your hair hasn't been easy. But that doesn't mean I'm ignoring it. Just please trust me to handle it on my terms. The last thing I would ever want is for history to repeat itself. For me to lose you." Frederic spoke honestly as he touched his daughter's cheek.

Rapunzel gave him a sad smile knowing that her being gone for eighteen years hasn't been easy for her father or her mother. But it helps to know that her father isn't just leaving the whole situation in the dark. And that he's willing to hear the Maverick out.

"I understand Dad. Just...Thank you for understanding too." Rapunzel gave her father a hug.

"Of course Dear." Frederic smiled as he returned the embrace.


Later in Rapunzel's bedroom...

Eugene, Lance and Cassandra were in the room listening in as Rapunzel gave what she had heard about the kidnappings. And about what her father said about being willing to listen to the Maverick.

"I'm sorry I think I need to clean my ears, or did Armageddon come early? Your father is actually willing to hear him out?! Before he slaps the chains on him?!" Eugene said in surprise to hear that detail.

"That's about it. But if Orion were to show that he's no threat to Corona, my dad will call off the order to bring him in." Rapunzel said in both a hopeful and exciting tone.

"I'm still reeling from the fact that the Maverick is a kid inside of a magic big boy suit." Lance said as he's still processing the bomb Eugene dropped on him.

"It's... not really a suit. It's more like an armored form he turns into at will." Rapunzel explained the best she could.

"Right...So where can I buy one of those armored bodies?" Lance fantasized about what he would look like in a suit.

"You do mean 'buy' right?" Cassandra inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes!...Mostly." Lance retorted and muttered the last part.

"Lance..." Eugene hissed a warning

"I kid. Just a joke man." Lance snickered and dismissed the idea of stealing armor.

"I'm gonna head over to the Souvenir Shop. Orion has to know." Rapunzel stated.

"I'll go." Eugene shrugged.

"Ditto." Lance beamed.

"I can't unfortunately. I volunteered to help my Dad with investigating those missing workers. But tell him I said 'hi', Okay Raps?" Cassandra said while declining the short trip for good reason.

"Okay, we will." Rapunzel assured Cassandra that she understands. "Good luck out there Cass."

"Thanks." Cassandra smiled in response before they all left the room.


Later at the Sunrise Gift Shop...

Rapunzel and her friends went down to the gift shop to meet up with Orion at the Mav Club. Unfortunately when they got there. It wasn't Orion or Friday behind the sale's counter. It was some random dweeb in his early twenties with freckles and his upper front teeth showing. He had a wavery voice to go with his looks as everyone was surprised to see this random person running the shop.

And they were weirded out.

"Hello. Welcome to the Sunrise Gift Shop. Can I take your order?" The random cashier greeted them.

"Uh yeah, hi, um, we're looking for the owners of the gift shop, have you seen them by any chance?" Rapunzel asked awkwardly.

"Oh yeah. You're looking at him sir. Hi my name is Jordan Pinkle. How may I help you?" The cashier responded.

"I hope this store came with a desk bell and directions." Lance muttered about how the dude didn't seem that bright.

Eugene took a breath to keep his patients in check. "OK I'll start over. Where can I find Orion?" He asked while annunciating his words.

"Sorry sir, our astrology souvenirs don't have Orion in it. Would you like to have a portrait of the Big Dipper instead?" The cashier offered.

"WHA- NO!" Eugene exclaimed in frustration.

"Easy Eugene." Rapunzel calmed him down.

"I'm trying Blondie. But the service here isn't getting my point." Eugene flared as he was calming down.

"You know it's my first day on the job. The lady who sold the property thankfully didn't have me sail a leg to have it." Jordan commented optimistically.

"Wait, lady?" Rapunzel inquired as she caught the hint.

"Yeah. The lady had an accent with perty red eyes. She left a note for some relatives name Percy Rappaccini and Euglo Fitzmore." Jordan stated holding a note.

It is a coincidence that those names have a short but very obvious resemblance to Rapunzel and Eugene's names.

"Can I see that?" Rapunzel asked for the letter.

"Fitzmore?" Lance squeaked as he stiffed a laugh.

"Sure Ma'am." The cashier handed Rapunzel the letter.

She opened the letter and read it with Eugene reading with her.

'Zel.'

'Sorry for not giving you the heads up earlier. I keep forgetting Groot can't be seen in public to deliver this letter. But hopefully the Nimrod who's running the shop now will make sure you have it. After making my fortune at the Expo I decided to let my profile match the money. Me and Friday including the living Christmas Yule log have moved to a much bigger place. Here's the address. Come on over to celebrate before we run out of cake and Brewski. Whatever the hell that stuff is.'

'Signed O.F.'

The bottom of the letter had the address and location to the mansion Orion has moved into.

"So that's what he meant by not in the neighborhood." Rapunzel said as she remembered what Orion said at the snuggly duckling.

"So he's moved out and left hints without us catching on. Okay problem solved." Eugene remarked.

"Sweet! Let's go before they run out of brewski!" Lance ran out of the store with Rapunzel and Eugene following after him.

"Wanna buy some Danish chocolate before you leave?" Jordan asked.

Rapunzel gleefully took a chocolate bar and left the money on the counter.

"Thank you." Rapunzel beamed before she left with the others.


Later at the Regnum Lucis Mansion...

Rapunzel and Eugene were riding on top of Maximus while Lance was riding on Fidella as Pascal's jaw dropped seeing the mansion.

"Woah..." Rapunzel gasped in awe seeing the front of the entrance.

"Okay I knew the kid was loaded now, but this…. I don't even have the words!" Eugene said with eyes wide open as he gestured to the beachfront mansion.

"Well yeah. What kinda fool doesn't move to a mansion when they're swimming in cheddar?" Lance mused.

"Eh. Royalty." Eugene shrugged.

Then the trio came off the horses with them following as well. Pascal climbed off of Rapunzel and ran up to the front doors in excitement.

Rapunzel saw the silver plaque next to the doors that read 'Please ring the doorbell before entering, if you want to keep your eyes.'

"Is that an instruction or a threat?" Eugene inquired.

Rapunzel shrugged and pushed the door bell.

***Metal version of the Avengers Theme rang as the doorbell sound***

Lance whistled as he found it catchy.

Then on the other end. Groot was looking through the peephole. Then he opened the door recognizing Rapunzel and the others.

"I am Groot." Groot greeted them with a smile and a wave.

"Hey Groot!" Rapunzel greeted him with a hug and a smile.

"He-ey Barky! How's it trimming?" Eugene greeted the tree as well.

"What the wooden wha?" Lance's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates seeing the talking tree for the first time.

Eugene forgot to tell Lance about Groot.

"Is Orion home by any chance?" Rapunzel asked the tall tree.

"I am Groot." Groot nodded and gestured for them to come in. While he pointed at the floor rug that reads 'Welcome please wipe your shoes. Or feet if you think shoes are Satan'

Rapunzel thought the rug was funny as she wiped her bare feet on it. Thankfully the rug was advanced enough to clean all dirt off from anything that wiped on it. Orion has seen footprint trails back at the castle, and he came prepared thankfully.

"It's like he knows me." Rapunzel giggled as she walked in.

Eugene and Lance came in as well as Pascal walked in to admire the luxurious decor of the main hall of the mansion. Complete with two sets of stairs going up. With two sets of rugs plastered across the steps. There was also a crystal Chandelier hanging above a pearly marble floor. And a white stoned statue of Stan Lee stationed in the middle of the main hall.

While everyone was admiring the decor and the different Robert Kincaid paintings hanging on the walls. There amazement was pulled out when they heard music.

(Old Time Rock And Roll - Bob Seger)

On the first note of the song. They saw Maverick slide across from one of the halls with his back together. They were weirded out to see Maverick wearing a white button collared t-shirt and underwear on top of his armor with black socks. And a pair of sunglasses.

Just take those old records off the shelf

I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself

Today's music ain't got the same soul

I like that old time rock and roll

Maverick was acting lick he was singing those lyrics but he was really mouthing them under the mask while holding a Playstation controller as a microphone. And dancing to the music like Tom Cruise from Risky Business.

"Okay?" Lance raised an eyebrow at Maverick dancing.

"I can never unsee that." Eugene deadpanned seeing the same thing.

Rapunzel was kinda weirded out and smiling awkwardly at the sight while Eugene was twitching his eye in utter shock. While Lance was covering his own eyes. Pascal was just smiling and dancing to the music alone on the floor.

Groot face palmed himself as he waited for Maverick to figure it out himself.

Maverick then acted like a stripper twirling around the Stan Lee statue like a strip pole. Before he teleported and did the duck walk with a mop acting like it's a guitar and strumming strings that aren't there.

Don't try to take me to a disco

You'll never even get me out on the floor

In ten minutes I'll be late for the door

I like that old time rock and roll

Everybody

Then Maverick did a turn and finally caught Rapunzel and the others standing there.

"***K!" Maverick shrieked in a high pitch.

*Record scratch noise ended the music.*

"How long were you standing there? And who's Steve Harvey over there?" Maverick asked while also gesturing to Lance.

"First of all, long enough." Eugene answered his first question. "Secondly, this is Lance, my old friend from my thieving days." Eugene answered his second question.

"And you realize of course now I'm gonna have to kill y'all right?" Maverick stated while cocking a neon shotgun.

"Mommy." Lance said in a scared voice as he cowarded from behind Eugene and used him as a human shield.

"He doesn't mean it, Lance. He likes to pull everyone's leg this way." Eugene rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the way and Lance seemed to take his word for it..

"And I'll Keep pulling if it keeps calling to me. Nice to meet you Prance." Maverick greeted as he dropped the fake gun.

"It's Lance." Lance deadpanned.

"Kory." Maverick nodded before he looked at Rapunzel while taking off the sunglasses. "I'm pretty sure you have questions. Deliver the best ones first."

"Aren't you a little young to be wearing that armor?" Lance asked, making the Maverick's eyes widen and then it hit him.

"You told him about the real me didn't you Fitzy?" Mav asked Eugene in a deadpanned voice.

"Easy Mav. You can trust Lance. Mostly. He's not a double agent. He's just a kleptomaniac." Eugene assured.

"I can't help it if I'm afraid of Spiders!" Lance exclaimed while not understanding what Kleptomania means.

"First off. Why didn't you tell me you were moving out of the gift shop?" Rapunzel asked while looking hurt.

"I actually did. Several times." Maverick pointed out.


Flashback Time!

Rapunzel spotted Orion coming out of a warehouse full of empty boxes while carrying some.

"Hi Orion! Would you like to meet Cass' date?!" Rapunzel beamed.

"Can't. Gotta focus. I'm moving out of the gift shop soon." Orion winced as he carried the heavy load of empty boxes.


Rapunzel stopped by the furniture shop where Orion was picking out some sofas. Or rather getting new ideas.

"Hey Orion. Would you like to visit Attila The Bun's Bakery with me?" Rapunzel invited him.

"Sure. You know I'm moving out of the gift shop soon?" Orion reminded her as he went with her to go buy something sweet at Atilla's new bakery.


Orion was busy writing a moving plan in the park when Rapunzel ran over to him.

"Orion! Have you seen Pascal?!" Rapunzel asked him looking worried

"No. I've been busy planning to move out of the gift shop. Why?" Orion asked out of concern.


Flashback over...

"Oh right." Rapunzel said as she rubbed her hand behind her neck and laughed nervously.

"Eh don't worry about it." Maverick waved it off before he shifted back into Orion. Who was wearing a neon house robe and Spider-Man slippers, as he pressed a button and a remote which caused the mansion's speakers to play another song.

(My House - Flo Rida.)

Welcome to my house

Baby take control now

We can't even slow down

We don't like to go out

Welcome to my house

Play that music too loud

Show me what you do now

We don't like to go out

Welcome to my house

Welcome to my house

"Come on. I'll give you the grand tour." Orion gestured to his friends to follow him.

"Um Orion?...There's something I wanted to tell you." Rapunzel tried to tell him about her father wanting to speak with the Maverick.

But Orion walked them into the living room. Coming into the luxurious living room with modern furniture. Gray leather sofas and sectionals with coffee tables stationed in front of a giant 80 inch flat screen plasma 8K TV. And the TV stand came with an electric fireplace.

"Over here is my crib. That's domicile talk for the living room." Orion gestured as they walked by. "As you can tell I don't feel comfortable living outdated like everyone else, no offense. So if you were all wondering what the current year of my home world looks like. This is it."

"Sweet mother of all things pretty like me..." Eugene gawked as he admires everything in Orion's new home.

"Holy Christmas Crab Cakes...Is this Shangri-la Eugene?! Cause it feels like it! I'm in the future! And I'm still a little boy!" Lance gushed humorously looking at everything.

"Uh...Orion. I-woah...Is this the kitchen?!" Rapunzel got distracted seeing how modern and set the mansion's kitchen looked.

White and stainless steel with a gas stove countertop and large double door fridge with an ice maker and water dispenser with a crushed ice setting in addition to hot and cold water. It definitely was not like the kitchen of the average rich mansion of this world. Nothing in this house resembles the current century of Rapunzel's world except for the exterior on the outside of the mansion. That way when people walk in. They're not only walking into Orion's house. But they walk into the future.

"Aye. And even though I shop in early century markets. I beam everything back to the present when I stock and cook." Orion stated humorously in a Thor accent.

Eugene was just walking by trying to to keep his cool while Lance was looking around squealing like a child.

"Down here is the dining room." Orion gestured to a completely updated luxurious dining room with a glass dining table and soft leather dining chairs. And topped off with a set of square plates and fancy flat wear when it's time to eat.

"Fancy." Rapunzel complemented his tastes in the dining decor.

"And before I bore everyone with rooms like the library, the outdoor pool, the gymnasium, the basketball court, the movie theater and the seven bedrooms. I'll just skip over to showing you all where I keep the Mav Club now. Especially since Kenan Thompson's Ancestor over there hasn't seen it yet." Orion quipped as he stated and gestured to Lance who was looking out the windows while smearing his face on the glass.

"Wait. The Mav Club? Okay! That both reminds me and demolishes my train of thought. How did you move an entire lair of gizmos and such under this place?! And without having to smash the ground?!" Eugene exclaimed in shock.

"Simple Ray Liotta. The entire lair is magic." Orion stated simply with his arms crossed.

"Somehow that makes total sense." Eugene said in a nonchalant tone.

"And by that he means it doesn't." Lance muttered for Eugene who glared at the big guy.

"Basically the entire lair is made up of light and matter. The lair is set to shift into said matter whenever I activate the relocation protocol. So it zooms around in this form underground to whatever location I set it under." Orion explained as he displayed a model of the Mav Club in neon form. Turning into streams of light and moving under another spot. "I could practically move it under your castle if I wanted."

"That's good to know." Rapunzel said to herself so that no one would hear it.

"Kay but what about that Cornerstone thing and those water pipes under the gift shop?" Eugene asked curiously.

"The cornerstone came with the lair. As for the pipes. Well lets just say it's all part of an underground sewer system and the only thing under the gift shop are just those pipes. Buried underneath dirt and water tunnels. Long story short. I got ya cover." Orion stated as he pressed a button and summoned the elevator to the Mav club stationed and hidden behind the wall of the dining room. "Shall we?"

"Orion, I really need to tell you something important." Rapunzel was still anxious to tell Orion the news about her father.

"It's alright. I already know about the kidnappings. And since you've reminded me. I think we should hop to it." Orion stated thinking Rapunzel was talking about the missing construction workers.

"Huh? B-but that's not what I was about to-" Rapunzel tried to say.

"Unfortunately three of the eighty victims who were kidnapped are already dead. I recovered one of the bodies this morning. IRIS and Friday are already running an autopsy." Orion spoke as he was getting inside the elevator.

Probably the reason Orion was dancing in his Maverick suit despite all of these kidnappings, it was just a stress relief. Why not if you were now living in a mansion?

"Wait, eighty victims? But the captain said that they have 15 victims." Rapunzel said looking confused.

"That they know of." Orion corrected and explained. "They're only fifteen that were kidnapped around Corona. The rest of the victims were reported around the globe. Your father was going to be reported by the other six kingdoms. But someone shot down the carrier pigeons before their messages could reach him."

Then the elevator came up as two sliding walls opened. Then they stepped onto it while continuing their conversations.

"Wait, the whole world's having the same problems as we are?" Rapunzel asked, as she was now getting worried.

"So multiple abductions. Murder and animal abuse. Whoever these kidnappers are, they're begging for the noose to marry their necks." Eugene shook his head as he found it diabolical for all of this to happen.

"Believe me Fitz. Given their long history, this group is begging for a permanent vacation in hell." Orion expressed his own thoughts.

"Do you know who they are?" Rapunzel asked the young keyblader.

"Not directly and with proof. But these bozos share the same pattern as they've been pulling these stunts for centuries. Abductions while leaving no trail. Focused on certain groups to kidnap. And doing it around the same time of year. They all share the same profile. The Flags Smashers." Orion answered as he held up a black faceless mask in his hand, it had eye holes and a red painted hand print on the side.

"The Who Whatters?" Lance inquired. Then as the elevator was going down it spooked Lance a little to make him squeaked like a girl "Eak!"

"Relax Lance. It always feels like that the first time." Eugene stated about the old elevator feeling people get during their first time going down in one.

"Where did you get this mask?" Rapunzel asked while looking at the Mask. Pascal was curious as well as the little Chameleon was sitting on her shoulder.

"About two years ago. When I was taking down a human trafficking ring in Kolkata. The Prime Minister was a huge grade-A sicko that ran the whole business and took samples of all the women before selling them. But I came in wearing the suit, busting up the place and saw where he was keeping all of his naked captives chained." Orion grimly stated.

"Yikes. Did you save all of them?" Rapunzel asked while shuddering in disgust.

"I did." Orion only answered knowing it's hard for Rapunzel to digest that other women were going through something worse than her own abduction. "Only the Flag Smashers weren't a part of this. The lady who was wearing this mask came in and assassinated the Prime Minister."

The same Prime Minister that was running the Trafficking ring.

"Ugh. And we thought the Baron was nasty." Eugene commented while listening.

"So the Flag Smashers wanted to free those women?" Rapunzel asked, wondering if they're not as bad as they seem. But those thoughts were halted as she remembered the recent kidnappings.

"No. Instead of sending them home. The group of Smashers were rounding the woman up. They were going to force them to join their cause or die. So I intervened. I took most of them down. But the assassin I mentioned took a lot of effort. After a long fight I came out on top. Before I took three cheap shots to the side. They were using some pretty advanced tech at the time and let's just say..." Orion pulled his shirt up a little bit to show three old bullet wounds on his left side near the stomach. "I would've lost a kidney that day if Groot hadn't pulled me out."

Rapunzel's eyes widened seeing the wounds. "My gosh." She covered her mouth with both hands.

"Yep. Don't expect me to model for Rollingstone anytime soon." Orion scoffed as he dropped the shirt.

"Sheesh. And all I ever got was a mosquito bite around his age." Lance muttered while he winced at the old wounds.

"Okay so that group you took down. Couldn't we just sail or in your case, fly to the Indian prison and interrogate those prisoners about their boss?" Eugene asked, wondering if that would work.

"Oh yeah. That could work. If they were alive." Orion sarcastically stated.

"Come again?" Eugene inquired.

"Those Smashers that were arrested, they committed suicide in prison before the guards got any info out of them. That's how serious they are." Orion answered.

Orion noticed Rapunzel was still shock at seeing his old scars.

"Hey, you're still with us Zel?" Orion asked as he was snapping his finger in front of her.

"Huh. Oh yeah. I'm good. Just...Wow." Rapunzel came to herself and chuckled nervously.

"You sure?" Orion asked again, wanting to make sure.

"Yeah, I'm okay." Rapunzel reassured Orion that she was fine.

Just then the intercom on the elevator turned on.

"Ryan. You're gonna want to see this." Friday spoke from the intercom.


A few seconds down in the Mav Club...

Orion and the others followed him down the open advanced lair as he was walking over to the biological research wing which also serves as a morgue. While of course Lance was looking around giggling and squealing like a kid seeing all of the shiny new tech and advanced decor.

"Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god..." Lance kept repeating as he was gushing with his fingers clenched to his beard as he was trying to contain the excitement.

"Don't touch anything. You could lose an arm in this place. Or worse, you're five o-clock shadow." Orion warned Lance while he was still walking.

Lance gasped dramatically in offense. "This is not a five o-clock shadow! This! Is a BOX BEARD!" He exclaimed.

"No it's not." Eugene deadpanned.

"Awe, whose side are you on man?!" Lance sulked.

Just as they made it to the research wing. Friday was seen next to two different More-On bots that were scanning and handling a corpse underneath a white cover and a glass case to contain the smell and keep the body as fresh as it could. Thankfully it wasn't completely shown due to the cover over the body.

"Hello Princess. Good to see you again." Friday greeted Rapunzel as she saw them walk in.

"Hey Friday!" Rapunzel greeted back as she hugged her with a smile.

Friday wasn't used to other people's affection so she awkwardly returned the hug and cleared her throat as they concluded it.

"I found a match for the body and the cause of death." Friday spoke up to Orion.

"Alright, lay it on me and- Hey Moron!" Orion caught a More-On claw drone trying to use the blender near the snack table.

But the automatic claw ended up making a mess as it turned on the blender with the top off and fruit scattered all over before the blender toppled over. Then the More-On drone raised his claw while facing Orion.

"Oh I swear to God, I am this close to converting you into a roomba." Orion groaned as he facepalmed himself.

The More-On claw made a mechanical sad noise as it looked down in response.

"Anyway, continue." Orion sighed.

"The victim's name is Nikolai Kozlov. He was an ex military troop for the Russian elite. But after his early resignation. He lived in Moscow as a toy maker. Where he was abducted, at the church nearby." Friday stated the details while displaying them on the terminal.

"What was the cause of death?" Orion asked.

"There were no signs of any bodily harm. But the body showed signs of fatigue and an over amount of adrenaline through the heart. starvation and dehydration to the brain. To put it plainly. This man was worked to death." Friday explained while looking at everyone and showing the details on the terminal.

Rapunzel just stared at the body in a loss for words. As she felt horrible to hear the details of how the man was drained of his life like this.

"Did he have any family members? Friends?" Orion asked.

"None. The Smashers have a code to not involve anyone with relatives or acquaintances." Friday grimly stated.

"Crap...Same as the other two victims." Orion noted before he asked his computer. "IRIS?"

'Yes Mister Forge?' IRIS answered.

"Give me an update on any possible locations." Orion requested as he was walking over to the main computer of the lair. Where IRIS displayed a map with specs and trail details.

'I've run an algorithm and a results pattern. Around all the many possible locations that they could breach in Corona. The geographical distribution indicates an isolation zone where the Flag Smashers are operating.' IRIS stated.

"Do the details of all the other three victims match?" Orion asked as he was typing on the keyboard.

'They do indeed. By isolating the metallic and wood particles in their fingerprints and raw steel material found in the vapors of their lungs. Gives us only one possible location where the Flag Smashers are operating.' IRIS displayed the location on the map.

Eugene was watching while trying not to fall asleep from all the technical jabber. He noticed what the location was on the map and recognized it.

"Wait... I know that location. That's an old meat packing warehouse." Eugene pointed at the map while leaning on Orion's chair.

"Yeah that stuff was nasty. Me and Eugene tried to smuggle some of their meat for travel. They all stated like expired goats milk." Lance grimaced remembering how the spoiled meat tasted.

Thankfully that warehouse was condemned and shut down because of their poor hygiene.

"It kinda makes sense though. A location with a horrid smell would throw anyone off from searching there." Rapunzel figured the only possible reason that the Flag Smashers would hide there.

"Exactly." Orion agreed and pushed a button on the keyboard. "Is the mark II ready IRIS?"

'Affirmative.' IRIS answered. 'I am already installing it into your ring specs now. It should be ready within the hour.'

"Solid." Orion grinned before he leaned back in his chair and said to Eugene. "There's some cake and brewski in the snack wing. You dudes go and take a break."

"I'm surprised you even have beer in a-" Eugene was about to say before he noticed Lance sprinting towards the snack wing. "Lance?!"

"I call dibs on the first barrel! Woohoo!" Lance cheered as he ran inside.

"Woah Lance! Easy! Have mercy on your livers!" Eugene yelled and ran after his partner.

"Weirdos." Orion muttered quietly.

"Oh that's right, Orion I need to tell you something really important." Rapunzel spike as she was reminded of why she came by.

"If it's more about the manhunt for my bounty, I already told you. I'm hard to fine." Orion assured Rapunzel thinking that's what she meant.

"No, well…. it's a little about that, but it's the opposite, my Dad said that he's willing to listen to you in person, if you show him that the two of you are on the same side, you do that, and he'll call off the manhunt." Rapunzel told him in excitement.

Orion was surprised to hear that as his computer pinged a clip of 'Despicable Me' where Dave the Minion gawks 'Whaaat?!'

"Is this for real? And not just King Cole setting a trap for me involving a net and tranquilizers? Because I'm allergic to valium." Orion inquired as he was skeptical about this.

"It's all true, he told me himself, he's not against you if you have the intention of helping people. He really means it, Orion." Rapunzel said as she got more and more excited.

Orion saw how sincere and excited Rapunzel was about this. Even by her toes curling hard on the hard floor. But Orion's priority wasn't about public approval. It was always about keeping the public safe. Than again. How can he keep all of them safe if they don't trust him.

"Alright. But he doesn't need to know who's under the Maverick's body or my metallic belt size." Orion stated as he insists on keeping his secret identity safe. "I'll meet with him. But only as the Mav Man."

"I promise. Trust me Orion, you won't regret this!" Rapunzel said as she gave him a joyful hug. While he hugged her back.

"But it has to be after the whole kidnapping thing is settled." Orion tells Rapunzel as he wants to find the flag smashers first, then talk with the king.

"Okay. Fair enough. We'll rescue those dozen workers. Take down the Smashers. Then arrange the meeting-" Rapunzel was going to say as she agreed to those terms.

"Not we. Me and Groot are going down there. You, Geico and the Odd Couple are gonna stay back while we handle it." Orion interrupted and stated firmly.

Pascal squeaked sadly while Groot was listening in the background.

"Wha- No! Orion, you have to let me-" Rapunzel was gonna say until Orion cut her off.

"Zel. These people are deadly. A frying pan isn't going to cut it with this ugly as hell group of killers." Orion insisted. "They go all the way back to the Black plague and the Fall of Rome. That can't be a coincidence."

"Excuse me, I can handle myself! If they end up hurting you again, who's going to pull you out if Groot ends up getting hurt too?! I don't want you to go in there alone!" Rapunzel protested the idea of letting those two go alone.

She was already thinking like a big sister.

"This isn't about what you want! It's about keeping everyone safe! Besides, if you want your King of the Hills father to get on my good side. I don't want to be responsible for putting his daughter in danger before meeting him." Orion spoke back with a firm frown.

'The suit is ready Maverick.' IRIS announced.

"Alright." Orion stood up and called to his tree companion. "Let's go Groot."

"Orion wait!" Rapunzel tried to say.

But Orion teleported out of there before she could say anything. Rapunzel looked mildly hurt and sighed as she sat on the computer chair sadly. Groot walked by giving her an apologetic stare.

"I am Groot." Groot said softly before he ran up to the exit to join Maverick in taking down the Flag Smashers.

Friday walked up to Rapunzel noticing the downcasted look on her face that she was familiar with.

"I know the feeling. Don't take it personal, Your Highness. Orion doesn't like to lose the people he cares about." Friday explained on Orion's behalf.

Lose the people he cares about?

"What do you mean by that?" Rapunzel asked Friday.

"I just know what it's like to be benched while he handles everything." Friday explained thinking Rapunzel meant about the first part of her statement.

But the Princess really meant the second part.

"I meant, the part where he doesn't like to lose anyone" Rapunzel clarified.

Friday bit her lip realizing she gave too much info. But now Rapunzel will insist on it later or try to figure it out herself. Friday sighed and stated.

"I guess it's no secret that he cares about you." Friday remarked softly as she pulled up a chair to sit down and talk.n"What I'm about to tell you, you can't tell anyone, and by anyone, I mean Orion, cause knowing you, you will probably tell Cass, Eugene, and Lance. But not to Orion, he has a reason why he can't tell you about his past."

What Rapunzel will hear will make her see Orion in a different light.

"Okay?" Rapunzel nodded. "I promise. I won't bring it up or tell him."

"Okay..." Friday leaned forward while looking down remembering how hard it was for Orion to grief or handle losing his family. Especially his sister. As she began to speak. "Before I met Orion, on the island where he was trained. He lived with his family for eight years while being the youngest in a rich household. The Forge family traveled from world to world. spreading their business as true philanthropists. Making those worlds a better place. And even though Orion wasn't that close to his parents. He only had one person that meant the world to him."

"Who?" Rapunzel asked.

"His sister Trish." Friday stated.

"He has a sister?" Rapunzel asked as her eyes widened in shock, she didn't know that he had a sister.

"Had a sister." Friday stated sadly. and gave a short smile. "And in a lot of ways. From how Orion used to describe her. She was a lot like you. In fact Trish was around your age when Orion was born. She became the only parent who ever raised him. While his own parents were mostly focused on their corporation."

"How much alike was I to Trish?" Rapunzel smiled and beamed a little at the thought.

"She was...Energetic. Fun. Optimistic. Responsible. Loyal. And a breath of fresh air as he put it. Orion even mentioned she hated wearing shoes and socks around the house." Friday grinned telling the details and gesturing to Rapunzel's bare feet as Trish was the same way.

Trish of course wore shoes while they were in public. But not when she was comfortable in the house. Which used to be strange to Orion because other rich girls loved wearing and buying shoes. Trish only owned a few pairs for going out. Mostly sandals.

"Awe..." Rapunzel wiggled her toes at the thought.

"That and Orion said she was hyperactive. Around her teen years. But grew more responsible and mature when she got older." Friday added.

Which actually made Rapunzel more confident that she'll adapt when she gets older.

Rapunzel was flattered that Friday said that both herself and Trish are a lot alike, and that's when she noticed something that Friday stated that he 'had' a sister. Rapunzel wanted to know the full story.

"What happened to his family?" Rapunzel asked, feeling like she also knew the answer herself.

Friday took a deep breath before saying.

"Well. Around the week after Orion's eighth birthday. The family went on a business trip to your world here. They were sailing on a frigate of this century to avoid drawing attention. But as their ship was sailing. They all ended up having the wrong kind of attention." Friday stated grimly."The Dark Mongers came and attacked their ship. Killing everyone on board. Including Orion's parents. But Trish made sure Orion got a life boat. To safety. But Orion was the one who was able to get off the ship. Just as he saw the Mongers tear his sister apart. Killing her right in front of him."

Rapunzel couldn't believe what she's hearing. "Oh my God.." Rapunzel covered her mouth with both of her hands and almost choked as she was fighting the tears in her eyes, she just couldn't find the right words.

"I know...It's horrible." Friday expressed."It took a long time for Orion to settle his grief. But if you ask me. No child can ever get over a night like that."

"W-why?" Rapunzel asked as tears started to fall down. She's feeling all sorts of emotion, sadness, pain, anger, if she thinks she had it ruff when she lived in the tower, then Orion had it much, much worse.

"I don't know. But Orion eventually found those Monger droids and took all of his anger out on them." revealed.

Those death bots had numbers on the side of their armor. Orion knew those numbers by memory and never forgot. Until he turned them into scrap metal.

"So now you know. And now you understand why he's been reluctant to have you around while he's out there being the Maverick." Friday agreed with Rapunzel and added. "But at the same time I agree with you. Orion shouldn't be out there facing these assholes alone. And if the rest of the victims are alive. We're going to get them out."

Rapunzel was surprised to hear that Friday agrees with her about joining up with Orion.

"Wait, we're going?" Rapunzel asked, making sure she heard it right.

"We have to. He almost died twice going after them alone. And I'll be damned if I let it happen again." Friday insisted.

"Alright then!" Rapunzel said as she got and was about to run toward the exit, but then she stopped and asked. "Which way is he heading again?"

"Hold on. I said we're going. But first we need the right gear. And I need to change." Friday stated while hinting about a suit of her own.

Friday went over to the wall and pushed a button that displayed a rack of advanced weapons and gadgets. Which made Rapunzel look amazed.

"Alright. For starters, let me see your skillet." Friday asked for her frying pan.

"Um I actually call it a frying pan, but okay." Rapunzel shrugged and handed it to Friday.

Then Friday placed a couple of small round devices and mods on the frying pan. Before she sprayed something that made the pan turn chrome.

"Oooooooh." Rapunzel looked interested.

Friday spun it to test the it's stability as it made a cool waving sound like a lightsaber.

"There. Not only for the next twenty four hours your frying pan will be indestructible and bullet proof. But it can also project this." Friday stated as she pushed a button on the handle causing an entire neon riot shield to project from the bottom of the pan. So Rapunzel can use it as a defense.

"Friday, you and Orion never seize to amaze me." Rapunzel tells Friday as she's really enjoying her new frying pan.

"Don't stop on my account. There's more where that came from." Friday grinned as the blue skinned girl walked over to the main terminal. "IRIS. give me an update on our 'secret project' S.S-1."

'S.S-1 is actually ready for deployment. Shall I have it installed into your arm braces?' IRIS answered.

"Absolutely." Friday smirked.

"What does S.S stand for?" Rapunzel asked curiously.

"Shift suit. The name 'Shift' is what I came up with for myself." Friday answered as she displayed the Shift suit on display.

In spite of these armored forms not really being suits. It's easier to call them suits because they feel like they are.

And now Friday is about to have one of her own.

Rapunzel widened to see the Shift form on display. Or rather, Friday's female Maverick form on display.

"Does Orion know about this?" Rapunzel asked as she's still in shock of Friday's suit in both impress and awestruck.

"Nope. Which is why I'm about to blow his mind out of the glass." Friday smirked in response.

"Oh I am so going to enjoy seeing that." Rapunzel smirked as she loved Friday's plan.

"Now as for your boyfriend and his stooge. I have-" Friday was about to say when the door to the snack wing opened which made them jump, hearing loud orchestral sailor music and laughing.

"Here's a health to the King and a lasting peace!~ To faction end, to wealth increase!~" They heard Eugene and Lance sing like drunk sailors. "Come, let us drink while we have breath!~ For there's no drinking after death!~"

Rapunzel and Friday got up to quickly go and check on what's going on.

"Okay. What are you guys...Up...To..." Rapunzel's jaw dropped at what she was seeing.

"Oh shit." Friday's eyes widened.

In the snack wing, an entire barrel of Brewski was empty including a couple of slices of cake eaten. With music blasting from the stereo. Eugene and Lance were standing on the table. Drunk as fifteen Shortys on a dead man's chest. Dancing and slurring the lyrics as they had their arms locked together like a slow can can. While they had mugs of Brewski in their other hands.

"And he that will this health deny!~ Down among the dead men, down among the dead men!~ Down, down, down, down!~ Down among the dead men let him lie!~" They both sang together.

"We can't, we're still alive." Lance slurred, making them both laugh.

"Eugene!" Rapunzel groaned and facepalmed herself as she couldn't believe her boyfriend got talked into getting intoxicated.

"Welp, they're out of commission." Friday stated as the two stooges can't fight while they're like this.

Rapunzel was tempted to test her frying pan on the back of Eugene's head. But given how drunk he is. it probably would've been unhealthy to add an extra headache with the hangover he'll be getting later.

So Rapunzel and Friday will have to join up with Maverick and Groot on their own.


Later down at the meat pack warehouse...

Maverick was looking through a pair of binoculars from the bushes outside the warehouse. Groot was hiding with him. So far no one came out of the old run down warehouse. And no one went in.

"Hmmm...We can either wait a couple of more hours to see if someone goes. In...Or we can screw principles and go in ourselves." Maverick quipped as he kept looking through the binoculars

"I am Groot." Groot agreed.

'Maverick. I have a positive I.D. on the leader of the Flag Smashers.' IRIS stated.

"You got an I.D. on a guy in a suit or the guy under a suit?" Maverick inquired.

'Both the former and the latter.' IRIS answered.

"Alrighty. Lay it on me." Maverick said as he went flying around the trees to blend in while using his camo mode. Groot was easier to blend because he's a tree as he was following after Maverick.

'Their leader's name is Karl Morgenthau. He was once the former King of the Northern Isles who's life dream was to unite the World into one kingdom. But the Seven Kingdoms disagreed with his methods.' IRIS stated

"And I'm guessing political disagreements lead to war or which led to impeachment which led to him joining the group." Maverick guessed as he landed on the roof of the warehouse.

'Indeed. The Flag Smashers chose Morgenthau as their new leader after spending a century underground. His last known public location is also where the Flag Smashers committed their first crime.' IRIS stated.

"I am Groot?" Groot asked Maverick. Translated: "how does she know all of this?"

"IRIS finds clues and makes them concrete." Maverick deadpanned. "Kinda Like the Weather Channel."

Then he flipped and landed through an open window as he looked around at all the hanging sides of beef. That was all way past their expiration date.

"You may wanna pinch your nose before coming in here Pal." Maverick whispered up to Groot. "Stay up there for now. I'll find us a way in."

"I am Groot." Groot gave a thumbs up from the ceiling window.

Then Maverick held his hand out as his ring scanned the entire warehouse. He waved the scanner beam around the place while walking around. It wasn't a really big warehouse which made Maverick under, how and why would the Flag Smashers be in this dump? Then his scanner found a hidden entrance under a fallen shelf of crates.

"Ello Govna." Maverick mused as he teleported over and lifted the shelf off. And opened a secret hatch. Maverick looked down to see an entire row of stairs going down below the entrance. Revealing that their hideout is underground.

What confirmed that this was the Flag Smashers's lair was the writing on the walls.

'One world. One People'

"Hey Groot. Come down here. I found a way in." Maverick called out quietly to Groot before he asked IRIS. "IRIS. Does King Karl...Have a picture? Dumb name."

He snickered at that.

'He does indeed.' IRIS displayed the image on his armor's helmet display.

.Which made him snicker again.

"Dumb face." Maverick stifled a laugh.


Down below the Flag Smashers HQ...

There was a warehouse where multiple guys wearing Flag Smashers masks were stacking and making an inventory of large crates. The room was some sort of armory with multiple shelves of crates. All containing 21 century assault rifles and pistols. The entire place had the look of your average typical warehouse. Only a little bit more advanced in terms of this world's century. Weirdly enough the entire place was sort of like an old 21st century abandoned warehouse. That's now being taken over due to squatter's rights. But it's still the kind of place any hero would want to sneak around to do stealth takedowns to pick up his enemies one by one. Unfortunately for that concept, Maverick isn't in a sneaky mood for this room.

Just then Maverick teleported and appeared standing in the middle of the room. which alarmed all of the Smasher troops in view.

"Yo! Gentlemen! Has anyone seen this man formerly known as King Karl?! Cause I'm totally suppose to bust him!" Maverick held up a picture before observing it. "Her...Wait. That a woman with a mustache." Then he asked them. "Has anybody seen a woman with a mustache?!...Anyone?!"

*BANG!*

The response he got was someone shooting an empty crate near him.

"Oh I see. You're all fans of RuPaul and you want him as your Empire. Well sorry bitches! I'm a KING ARTHUR FAN!" Maverick bellowed, holding out his keyblades and standing in a fighting pose. As he added. "Aquaman. Not the munchkin who pulled a sword out of a rock."

Then they started shooting at him while Maverick spun his keyblades to block and ricochet the shots.

"One World! One People!" One of them yelled as the fight began.

Then Maverick began to clash and swing his keyblades using his non-lethal attacks to knock three Smashers aside before he jumped and slammed his fist into the ground to cause a neon shockwave. Knocking everyone down as they came at him one by one. Maverick shifted his keyblades into metal batons as he charged them with neon energy. Then he spun them in his hands as he dashed and fought off five Flag Smashers as he blocked their fists and kicks with his batons and performed a roundhouse kick knocking two of them down before he used his batons to bash their heads which knocked them out quickly. Then he faulted over one crate and side flipped over another and shot a Smasher with his neon stun shot while in the air, then Maverick landed on a Smasher and kicked him, sending him into six more.

Then seven more Flag Smashers came in and one tried to sound the alarm as the troop ran for the alarm switch on the side wall. But Maverick tossed a baton at the switch, smashing it to pieces as the baton stuck to the wall.

Maverick winced as he quipped. "Damn, I'm brain dead. Can somebody get that for me?!" He called out acting like he tossed that by mistake.

Then three Smashers started shooting at him with assault rifles from the ramp as Maverick flipped and twirled to avoid it before he began to teleport using spin kicks three times to knock the Smashers off the rails. Then Maverick performed a multi-teleporter take down on fifteen of the remaining Smashers before taking the last five down with a last Arcanum attack.

Then Maverick landed in the middle of the warehouse to see his handy work as the place was littered with KO'ed Flag Smashers all over the shelves and ground.

"Alright Bud! The kids are asleep, how's your end?!" Maverick called over to Groot who came out from a large door leading to another warehouse wing. As he tossed an unconscious Flag Smasher troop out of his hand. Groot gestured to the sixty Flags Smashers from the room he was just in, all out cold.

"I am Groot." Groot stated that he took care of them.

"Alright. Let's split up and see where these Jason clowns are keeping the hostages." Maverick suggested.

"I am Groot." Groot agreed as they went in different directions.

Groot searched the warehouse where Maverick fought while Maverick went towards the second warehouse where Groot fought. And they began to search all of the doors in the area which kept leading them toward empty rooms.


Five minutes later…..

"BOOYA!" Maverick bursts through another door only to see another empty room. "What the hell?"

"I am Groot?" Groot asked from his earpiece.

"Yep. Empty Room." Maverick sulked and looked down.

Just as he turned around and was ready to probably call off the search or blow up a wall to find King Karl. Suddenly…..

*Crash!*

A wooden table slammed into Maverick and shattered to pieces as he fell on the ground. Maverick groaned and looked up to see a big tall muscular brute with a Flag Smasher mask and a medal arm. Cracking his knuckles

"Not dis time Mav ol Boy! I lost too many paychecks to you. And I ain't losin another one." The big brute stated with a Scottish accent.

As Maverick got up. He twitched and groaned in anger and annoyance, until he blew up at him. "HEY!"

The big brute looked at him.

"You don't mess. With T M." Maverick said at first, then his eyes wondered. "T M…...The Maverick not telemarketing or tympanic membrane. I mean you're not supposed to mess with that part of your ear, not that you could, I mean look at you. You have ears right? I can't tell with the mask-"

"Are you mocking me?" The big brute glared intimidatingly. But Maverick ignored him as he kept talking.

"With that mask on I can only guess you look like Gerard Butler if he ate a bowl of nails for breakfast every morning without any milk. Perhaps just a dash of sugar. I'm guessing the sugar is how you lost the arm. Or was it from sitting in bed reading Fifty Shades Of Grey all day-" Maverick kept going.

"HEY SHUT THE HELL UP YOU FLUPPERCOCKEN MONGREL!" The big brute bellowed as he had enough. "You've had dis comin for a long time you ugly glowing bag of bolts."

"Why? Did I piss you off or something?" Maverick inquired.

"Well...Aye...You don't remember me?" The Big Brute asked in shock.

"Well given the mask. I'm gonna go with anyone I can think of...You're President Obama?"

"Who? No!" The Big Brute yelled with a glare.

"Colonel Sanders?" Maverick guessed.

"No." The Big Brute deadpanned.

"Santa?" Maverick guessed.

"No." The Big Brute deadpanned.

"TBN's Jesus?" Maverick guessed again.

"Blasphemy! I mean no." The Big Brute answered again and groaned as he pulled the mask off. Revealing his face. "Now do you recognize me?!"

The Big Brute had a brutish mug with a curly mustache like a barbershop type and a few missing teeth with a golden tooth at the bottom of his lip.

"Grammy?!" Maverick beamed.

"Wha?! NO! I'M NOT YER WEE GRANDMA YA TONY!" The Big Brute exclaimed in frustration.

"You sure? You sound grouchy like Grammy was. And you sound deep and blood thirsty like Grammy was." Maverick quipped as he inquired and listed.

"Yes I'm curtain ya dumbass!" The Big Brute exhaled in anger.

"Gee. Grammy used to call me that. Usually after I woke her up from a nap by shoving an ice cube down the back of her shirt." Maverick quipped as he pondered.

"Ye rsallyi don't recognize me at all?!" The Big Brute asked in annoyance.

"No clue." Maverick admitted.

"YOU CRASHED MY SHIP INTO A LATRINE!" The Big Brute exclaimed.

"I crashed a lot of pirate ships into outhouses. Could you be specific?" Maverick still looked confused.

Maybe Maverick forgot to come to Big Brute's birthday.

"We just spoke last week when ye stopped me from robbing the first national bank of Switzerland!" The Big Brute pointed out.

"Doesn't ring a bell. twenty other banks were being robbed that week and I was on a hotstriek to even check the map." Maverick stated as he still was confused.

"UGH! DAT'S IT!" The big Brute bellowed as he had enough. "When I get my hands on you! I will carve my name on your corpse! So everyone will remember the name of Duncan Slim Jim-"

Oh Slim Jim! Now we remember!

"OOOOH! SLIM JIM! YEAH! Now I remember." Maverick beard as he remembered. Before he smirked. "How's the wife doing? You got one yet?" He winked.

Then Slim Jim's face turned red as steam pumped out of his ears. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" He screamed while charging at Maverick.

"Shit you're huge." Maverick's eyes widened.

***PUNCH!***

Slim Jim punched Maverick so hard with his metal arm that Maverick slammed into a shelf and crashed into a bunch of empty crates.

"Ugh...T.K.O." Maverick groaned.

Then Slim Jim huffed in anger as he brought his huge hands up and was about to smash Maverick with them. When suddenly...

***BOINK!***

"Ugh! Point..." Slim Jim grunted as he felt something bang in the back of his head.

Slim Jim fell down to reveal Rapunzel standing behind him holding her chrome frying pan.

Maverick's eyes widened as he flipped up and pointed at Rapunzel with a scowl on the mask.

"What in the tenth level of blonde ambitions are you doing here Zel?!" Maverick demanded.

"Saving you! You're welcome by the way." Rapunzel scowled back at Maverick as she pointed her frying pan at him.

"All you did was kill my Grammy!..." Maverick gestured to a KO'ed Slim Jim who was drooling. "Oh wait. That's not blood. Just drool...Where was I? Oh yeah. Seemingly killed my Grammy, just as I was about to let out the knock out gas and old reliable!"

Maverick gestured to his keyblades shifting into an atomic sledgehammer that stuns brutes on impact.

"Not only that! But now you're in the line of fire with the same folks that probably sunk Atlantis!" Maverick glared at her.

"So are you! And did you really think alerting this entire place was a good idea?!" Rapunzel pointed out.

"I didn't alert the whole place, Goldilocks! Just these rooms. I installed a signal jammer to keep all the noise in this place from reaching out." Maverick stated.

Especially keeping the Flag Smashers from using their communications to alert their boss.

"Okay I'll admit that's clever, even if I'm not sure what a jammer is. But now that I'm here-" Rapunzel was about to say.

"You're going back. Groot and I can handle this alone." Maverick stated firmly.

"Ugh, why are you so stubborn?!" Rapunzel asked as she glared at him.

"I know you are but what am I?" Maverick crossed his arms and teased.

While they were arguing. Groot was on the other end of the warehouse, ignoring them and still searching the rooms for some hostages. That and he didn't notice what happened with SlimJim earlier since he figured Maverick had it under control. Which he did, mostly.

And before Rapunzel could make a retort. Five more Flag Smasher troops came out of a room.

Rapunzel flung five long strands of her long hair to wrap around the troops and pulled them into the air screaming. Then she flung four of them hard into some empty crates and yanked the last troop down while he was in the air, only for the troop to yelp as he was slammed in the head by Rapunzel's chrome frying pan.

*Boink*

Then Rapunzel stood looking smugly at Maverick showing that she really can take care of herself. Groot came over at the last moment to see Rapunzel finish those troops off all by herself. Even he was impressed.

But Maverick was acting nonchalant.

"I assume Friday gave you those mods?" Maverick inquired about her frying pan.

"Pretty much." Rapunzel chirped.

"Well as the old saying goes. Frying pans are like Europe. It has Greece at the bottom." Maverick made a pun and laughed at it.

It was even enough for Groot to laugh. "Ahahahahahahaaaa!" He hunched over.

"Hahahahaha...hehehehehe!" Rapunzel then started laughing as well. Maverick always had a way in making her laugh.

"Hahahahahahahaaa! Oooh I'm so Gangsta." Maverick laughed and mused.

Then they all took a deep breath. And felt the tension passing. As Maverick and Rapunzel had no reason to be upset anymore.

"Groot? You think she can tag along without getting killed?" Maverick asked the tree.

"I am Groot." Groot nodded.

"Whelp. I'm out numbered. You win, Zel." Maverick stated as walked by to resume searching for another way out of the room to search for the kidnapped victims.

"Yes! Score one for the princess!" Rapunzel beamed as she started to follow Mav.

"Oh sure. Girls always get the bigger scores. Even the bigger toy cars. We have to play with tiny hot wheels while you get the Barbie glam convertibles." Maverick grumbled to himself before he punched a door open and it shattered. Showing another empty room much to his frustration. "Ugh! Where is that second hallway?"

"Look to your right." Someone said while startling Maverick and Groot. As Maverick turned to his right to see who said that.

"Who said thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Maverick froze with his eyes wide.

(I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew)

Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight

It must have been something you said

I just died in your arms tonight

Maverick was in a daze as he saw a female figure in a royal blue and white shiny suit, a little similar to the Maverick suit he wears, but with a different paint pattern and a different symbol. Her symbol resembled a lightning bolt in the middle of a diamond pattern that waved around her torso. Her face was the big difference. her suit came with a blue metallic face instead of a screen with eyes and wavy beautiful white hair. And her face was beautiful to look at in Maverick's opinion. Obviously this was Friday, in her new armored form. Also known as 'Shift'. Matching the adult height as Maverick.

Speaking of him. Maverick was still going.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..." Maverick kept the same note as his eye twitched a bit as he was in a daze of love.

"I think you broke him." Rapunzel said as she waved her hand in front of Mav's face.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..." Maverick was still in the zone while zoning everyone else out.

Friday, also known as Shift smirked before looking at Rapunzel.

"I'll handle this." Shift said as she started rubbing her hands causing a strong static to build up in her hands. And then…

*ELECTRIC SLAP!*

Rapunzel and Pascal winced. As Maverick's head jerked from the sharp electric slap that pulled him out of the zone.

"Awe Baba..." Maverick mimicked Barry White before he recoiled and faced Shift. "Um...I have countless questions. But I think I'll go with the one that's gluten-free...Where did you get that?"

He pointed at her armor.

"I made it." Shift said with a grin. "Surprised?"

"Without me knowing...And...I assume…...You brought Zel along right?" Maverick nodded slowly as he was processing this.

"Mhmm." Shift confirmed as she crossed her arms and kept enjoying Mav's reaction.

Maverick slowly looked at Groot. "Did you know about this?" He asked the tree.

Groot shook his head saying no, he didn't know about Friday making herself a suit of her own either.

"Uh huh..." Maverick nodded to himself as he looked at Shift. "So this is your way of getting into the action whether I like it or not huh?"

"Pretty much." Shift kept her smirk.

"You wanna know what totally sucks about this moment?" Maverick started.

"Enlighten me." Shift mused with her sultry accent acting flirtatious.

"It's working." Maverick admitted and accepted defeat.

Meaning Maverick now will let Shift join in on his missions.

Shift then condescendingly patted his metal cheek. "It takes a real champion to accept defeat." She teased as she was really enjoying this.

"Right..." Maverick exhaled as he walked by them and went down the second tunnel Shift found, slowly. While whispering. "She made that. By herself."

While Groot, Rapunzel and Shift were following him. Maverick didn't know if he was impressed, dumbfounded or felt outsmarted. Probably all three. Either way he was mostly speechless.

For now he needed to find the leader of the Flag Smashers and the kidnapped victims.


Once they made it all the way down the tunnel. Where there were two different pathways. One the left path was a window where they could see an entire facility of workers with tattered clothes and sweat on their bodies, with tools and hammers working on a giant round steel device. Some of them were older than Rapunzel's father. It was easy to figure out who these people were.

Especially since there was a muscular Smasher with a whip in his hand and an electric prod threatening and yelling at the workers to work faster.

"It's them!" Rapunzel whispered as she and the others realized.

"Friday. You're up. Get them out of there and escort them to safety." Maverick told Shift.

"I'm on it. And the name, is Shift." Shift smirked before she ran down the path.

"Groot. Give her a hand just in case." Maverick advised his tree friend.

"I am Groot." Groot nodded as he ran to go join up with Shift.

"Zel, you're with me. We need to find the boss and shut this whole ordeal down." Maverick told Rapunzel.

"Wait. Shouldn't I go in and help Friday? Some of those people might get hurt during the fight." Rapunzel asked

"Think for a moment, Zel. Your heart's in the right place I get it, but if anyone who lives in Corona down there, which in this case is fifteen puppies- I mean people. If they see your face. They'll tell the Captain, who will tell your dad. That I brought you down here to team up with me. And he'll call the whole meeting off thinking I put you in danger, and he'll double the bounty on my head and probably add a bonus for my Dragon Balls." Maverick illustrated with intense serious humor and drama.

He gestured his crotch for 'Dragon Balls'.

Rapunzel wanted to argue, but she knew that he was right.

"Good point." Rapunzel whispered. And then she realized something ."Wait. Won't the Smashers tell the guards if they see me?" Rapunzel asked Mav.

Why she never asked that question when Rapunzel decided to join up with Maverick, he'll never know.

But Maverick turned back around to face her and raised his eyebrow.

"The guards don't even believe the Stabbingtons when they tried to frame you for locking Fitz and Cass together in a cell." Maverick scoffed.

"I kinda did actually." Rapunzel meekly stated.

She had a good reason, to make Cassandra and Eugene get along that day.

"Did you also put poison in their cookies?" Maverick inquired.

"No. That part was a lie." Rapunzel deadpanned about that false rumor.

"Right. So do you really think the guards that are surrounded by brain dead convicts will take the word of a bunch of tinfoil hat wearing psychopaths with a white van?" Maverick pointed out with a snort.

"Fair enough." Rapunzel chuckled at Maverick's point.

"Thank you. Now let's cut the exposition from here and go kick some ass already." Maverick suggested as he jogged down the other hall.

"Right." Rapunzel agreed as she ran with him. "What does exposition mean?"


Down in the Smasher's training grounds...

The second path led to the entrance of a large room which looked like a fighting ring. Where all the Smasher's train. But right now it was empty. Save for one person. Standing in the middle was a second large round device which resembled something of 21st century military tech. And in the center was a man in a mask. His outfit a pair of long black pants and matching shoes with a dark leather coat. with the motto 'One World. One People' spray painted at the back.

This was Karl Morgenthau. The former King of the Northern Isles. And even though Maverick jammed the signal around the lair. Karl was already aware of his arrival due to Lash being in the room.

"I'll let you take care of this, Your Highness." Lash bowed before he disappeared.

Karl grinned as he and Lash were in league. Since Lash was the one who supplied the Flag Smashers with the modern tech and weapons. He even showed them how to use them.

"Ka-Blam!" Maverick kicked the doors down as he jumped in and landed in room.

Rapunzel ran in and stood on her guard next to Maverick. As they stood against the boss. 'King Karl' was standing with his back towards them. With his hands behind his back.

"Yep. He's in charge." Maverick figured.

"How do you know?" Rapunzel asked curiously.

"Cause, the man in charge thinks he's too cool to face the intruders and keeps his back to them before he turns around to talk before killing us. Now put your game face on." Maverick remarked.

Then Karl started to speak without moving an inch.

"It's funny. Every time I try to convince the world that we are of one species. And that we should stand as one. They always resist." Karl stated as he felt like Maverick and his friends are a part of that resistance.

"What do you expect when you attack people and use them as slaves?" Rapunzel glared as she stood next to Maverick.

"I tried the civil path. But humanity never responds to logic. Only to what it understands. Brute force and an iron fist." Karl responded as he turned around to face them while he stood with his poise demeanor still intact.

"And liberal media. If this world had any." Maverick shrugged.

"What do you and the Flag Smashers really want?" Rapunzel asked the leader.

"It's simple Princess. We want the world to unite and stand together as one race. But more divides us than connects us." Karl protested. "My kingdom, my home. The same that shunned me used to be a mighty kingdom standing as a family under one roof. But centuries of difference and ideas split us between North and South. And it won't stop there."

"We're talking about the The Northern and Southern Isles right? Just didn't want to get lost." Maverick inquired.

"Yes." Karl deadpanned.

"Right, continue Karl." Maverick insisted while acting civil, but it was kinda funny to see.

Karl kept his own nerve and stayed composed as a cucumber.

"I sought to return my kingdom to its former glory and paid the price of losing my crown and position as the King of the Northern Isles. All because they insisted on their differences and divisions. And those two factors are what puts our world in danger. And we will stop at nothing to end them once an-" Karl tried to finish.

"Okay I'll stop you there." Maverick held his hand up and interrupted him. "Long story short the people disagreed with you, and you threw a fit and they tossed you out after giving you the pink slip. And instead of accepting everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs, you joined up with these renegades to force your point."

"That pretty much sums it up." Rapunzel agreed as she flung her hair to bind Karl. But it went past him as the status of a hologram was seen around him. Surprising Rapunzel. "What?!"

"Yeah I kinda saw that coming." Maverick deadpanned.

Then the floor opened in front of them as Maverick and Rapunzel saw Karl rise up out of the ground from a lift, as he was now in a fully bodied knight's suit of armor. Karl's suit was a fully bodied armor that looked like the style of a Medieval Times look. Complete with an exoskeleton mod at the back to increase strength and speed. Then Karl drew his large glowing red sword out from his side sheath. And he stood against Maverick and Rapunzel.

Rapunzel held her frying pan in a fighting stance and Maverick summoned his keyblades and spun them as he stood in his fighting stance.

"Alright Sir Plus." Maverick quipped as he hovered. "Maximum effort."

Then he dashed and Rapunzel ran into the fight as they clashed with Karl.


Meanwhile down at the construction chamber…...

All of the hostage workers were working on a large round device that was sixteen feet tall and armed like a weapon. All of the workers groaned as they were sweating and tired. While a large brute Smasher was yelling at them to work harder and faster while he would snap a whip.

"MOVE IT!" The brute would yell like an overgrown slave master.

From inside the same room. Cassandra was there in her royal guard attire. Hiding among the boxes and sneaking around.

Earlier her father received an anonymous tip from a blue carrier pigeon. holding a note that told them where the Flag Smashers were keeping the hostages and advising him to be careful. So the Captain arrived with help as he and the other guards were looking around the boxes inside the meat packing warehouse above the lair. But the smell was too much for Stan and Pete, so they volunteered to hold a perimeter outside the warehouse to not let anyone in or out. Cassandra, the Captain and the Guards managed to find the same entrance Maverick found earlier and went down the stairs to where Maverick fought those Smasher Troops earlier. The royal guards were looking over all of the Flag Smashers that were down and making arrests as per the Captain's orders. Cassandra went down further without anyone noticing as she suspected this was all Orion's doing to make their job easier. So she found the room where they're keeping the hostages and snuck inside. But there was no sign of anyone else. And Cassandra needed to come up with an exit strategy fast. Not just for her, but for the captive workers.

A worker was sweating up a storm from having to carry a large amount of metal in a sack. In spite of the Flag Smashers advanced weaponry. They're still based on this century's method of construction and tools. The man was above the age of forty so he soon fell on the ground as he was fatigued and blacking out.

"GET UP! NOW!" The brute barked and ordered as he kicked the worker making him yell in pain.

Then as the Brute was about to lift up the whip to beat this man to death. He felt the tip end of a blade touch his neck as Cassandra looked furious and intimidating.

"Do it, and I will cut open that pig slop you call a throat." Cassandra threatened as the brute gulped.

Then the brute slowly dropped his whip and electric baton as he held his hands up. The other Flag Smashers didn't notice her yet. But just as one was about to. A flash of lightning zoomed around the room like a stream of light running across a picture. And this lightning stream quickly stunned most of the Smasher troops in the room. While some large tree vines picked up the six remaining troops as they yelled in fright and were all lifted up to hang above the ceiling.

Cassandra looked up to see Groot come down and land in front of her.

"I am Groot." Groot greeted.

The Big Brute tried to inch away from Cassandra's blade while he was distracted. But Cass quickly swung the butt end of her sword to knock the Brute on the side of his head. "Ugh! Oooh." The Brute fell out cold.

"I'd take it Mav is in here too?" Cassandra remarked.

Then Suddenly Shift landed next to Groot, surprising Cassandra as the armored girl smirked. She was the one using the lightning.

"Yeah, but he's multitasking right now." Shift mused.

"Friday?" Cassandra quietly asked as she was surprised to see her new female Maverick form.

Thankfully no one there heard her name as the workers stopped what they were doing. And were happy and relieved to see help had arrived. And somehow seeing the Maverick's companion with Shift let them know she's an ally. That and seeing a royal guard of Corona talking to her.

"Yep. But it's Shift." Shift said with a grin.

"Catchy." Cassandra nodded with a grin of her own. Then she looked around the other workers looking concerned. "I thought there were only fifteen workers taken."

"There were. But only in Corona. These guys were kidnapping workers everywhere around the world, even outside the seven kingdoms. Cass, they've been tortured. Starved. And they need medical attention." Shift stated as she helped the man who passed out up off the floor to sit against the wall to rest.

"They'll have it. But we need to get them out of here first." Cassandra assured before she looked at the round device. "What's this?"

"I'm not sure. IRIS, run a scan." Shift said as she scanned the device.

'Scanning…...Ma'am. They're are dozens of Smashers coming from the other end of the lair. They're about to ambush the Captain and the others.' IRIS alerted Shift.

"Crap." Shift hissed.

"What?" Cassandra didn't hear.

"Your father is about to have company. We gotta go." Shift stated which got Cassandra ready for action. Then Shift looked at Groot. "Groot, stay here and look after these people."

"I am Groot." Groot obeyed as he stood guard.

Then Cassandra and Shift left the room to head back over to the Captain and his men.


Meanwhile...

In the warehouse underground. The guards were lining up all of the Smashers that were down and injured. And making them all sit in a corner ready to depart as prisoners.

The Captain looked around for Cassandra as he now noticed her missing, he was so busy looking for signs of the other workers that he was just now noticing.

"Dad!" Cassandra called from the second hallway entrance.

"How did we miss that entrance?" One of the guards inquired.

"Cassandra, are you okay? What did you find?" Captain asked out of concern when she came over and he held her shoulders.

"I found all of the captive workers, but-" Cassandra almost said when she quickly noticed the danger. "LOOK OUT!" Cassandra pushed her father to the ground as bullets came flying past them.

***Bullets Shots!***

The guards shrieked as one was shot multiple times and killed. "UGH Uglack!"

While another guard got grazed on his right upper arm. But the rest of them quickly got to cover behind some shelves and wooden crates as the Guards of Corona were out matched against modern weaponry. The Flag Smashers brought in seven mini gunners. As all of the remaining Flag Smashers troops stood with them.

As it looked like the Flag Smashers were given the upper hand. The Minigunner troops were struck by electrical bolts making them yell in pain as they were zapped. Then Shift came down and landed in a pose. She charged her electrical fists and glare ferociously at the Smashers.

They began to shoot at her but Shift kept phasing past the bullets as she walked over to them casually and zoomed over light lighting as she kept dashing and knocking troops around. Then she flipped and twirled with graze and skill as she started a flurry of punches and kicks at so many Smashers that were shooting at her. She was taking them down one by one as they kept coming.

"Another one?" The Captain inquired at Shift seeing how she was similar to Maverick.

Then Shift fired an emp wave around the room from her suit, looking like a watery shock wave. This wave jammed the rest of the guns around the entire lair. That way the Smashers couldn't be able to use their guns. so they relied on swords and other hand based weaponry to fight traditionally.

"Come on! They're guns are down!" Shift called over to the Captain and the others, as she was fighting three Smashers with swords, using her metal arm braces to block their attacks.

"Come on Dad, she needs help!" Cassandra was about to get up and fight.

"Cassandra no! She's dangerous." The Captain grabbed her arm denying her permission to go and fight. "We don't know if-"

"She saved my life. And she helped me find the other workers." Cassandra stated as she insisted on helping Shift.

This surprised the Captain as he looked over at Shift. She wasn't fighting like a lethal protector since all the Smasher Troops she took down are still alive. Then he quickly looked over at the royal guards.

"You heard my daughter! Let's give her a hand!" The Captain ordered much to Cassandra's approval.

Cassandra smiled as she and the others ran over and started fighting the other Smasher troops with Shift.


Back over with the fight against the leader….

Rapunzel was using her proto-shield from her frying pan to block Karl's attacks as she and Maverick were clashing and keeping up with his attacks while giving their own counter attacks. Rapunzel would be using her proto-riot shield as a weapon to try and bash Karl with it. But he was too fast and too strong. Maverick's signature twirls and ninja skill attacks kept getting blocked as he would spin his keyblades. All of his keyblade based spells were ineffective against Karl's suit as Maverick tried a fire spell and a gravity spell. And it didn't work. Then he dodged Karl's slash from his word and tried a thunder spell. And it still didn't work.

"Damn. Can you teach my clothes how to ignore damages too?" Maverick quipped as they kept fighting him.

Then Maverick was given a backhand smack from Karl's suit in response as he grunt and was slammed into a support beam. But Maverick rolled over and flipped back up to standing. Then Rapunzel was busy blocking Karl's attacks with her large shield as she quickly glanced noticed the roof was cracking.

This whole room was kind of condemned. Maverick noticed as well. And ran over to slash at Karl's back who quickly turned to block Maverick's attacks. Maverick flipped back and shifted his keyblades into pistols and started shooting at Karl, but the armored leader of the Flag Smashers block and ricocheted all of Maverick's blasts as some of them were bounced into three support beams which shattered on impact. As this act Maverick did was silently telling Rapunzel what to do. Maverick looked over at Rapunzel, giving her a gesturing hint.

Rapunzel quickly caught on and nodded as she ran over to smash the remaining support beams.

Meanwhile Maverick was fighting with Karl like a ninja and a knight in a duel. If the knight had the same speed with his own style. Maverick was back up against the wall by Karl, but Maverick ran up and flipped off the wall to deliver one slash across Karl's back. Making his armor crack a bit. Karl noticed and turned to stand guard.

"Dirty. But impressive." Karl complemented his foe as his voice was metallic in his mask.

"Oh you ain't seen dirty yet." Maverick mused and quickly yelled. "Now Zel!"

Then Rapunzel smashed the last support beam and Maverick quickly teleported over to her to cover them both with a neon shield.

Karl looked up as the roof was quickly crumbling and it all came crashing down on him. three floors of debris came down on top of all of them. And it was a loud and chaotic sight to see. Like an old stadium being demolished in one room.

*CRUMBLE!*

Then as the dust settled from the roof falling. Pascal was hiding in Rapunzel's dress pocket the whole time as he peeked out looking frightened. Then Maverick pushed all of the debris off his neon shield. And he dropped it, allowing him and Rapunzel to stand up and look around. The entire training hall was just destroyed. Without a trace or proof that it was before they destroyed it.

"Woah. We really brought the house down." Rapunzel remarked.

"Kay now you're starting to sound like me." Maverick snickered.

Then they looked over to see a hand pop out from the rubble as Karl slowly climbed out. Showing how damaged he and his armor was. Karl's body was battered. Bloodied and covered in dirt and bruises as he collapsed out of the rubble. Karl coughed violently as it was a sight to pity.

"Ugh…...Clever." Karl weakly complemented as his lips were chipped and damaged.

"Jesus." Maverick winced at the sight as he and Rapunzel were slowly approaching him.

Then Karl raised his hand up as it looked painful to do so.

"Easy, you're losing a lot of blood. Let us help you." Rapunzel said as she and Maverick wanted to help him.

"She's right. It doesn't matter what you did. Your pride for the world isn't worth dying like this." Maverick added as they kept approaching him.

But the Flag Smasher leader chuckled darkly. "Sorry Princess. This isn't a fairy tale. And you're not the plucky girl who reforms the villain and saves the day. It's just not done like that." Karl spoke sinisterly before he pressed a button on his suit as he whispered. "One World. One People."

Then they heard a loud beep echoing the entire lair as the rooms flashed red. Then before Karl slipped away to die. Maverick quickly casted a healing spell on him. So his death wouldn't be on the hands of him and Rapunzel.

"What's happening?" Rapunzel looked around worried.

'Maverick. The Flag Smashers were forcing the workers to build a bomb. We now have one minute to vacate the perimeter before everything blows.' IRIS informed Maverick and Rapunzel from his suit's speaker.

Rapunzel's eyes widened in horror as Maverick realized what that big round device was for, thanks to Shift scanning it for him. Not just a bomb. But a bomb big enough to blow up all of the seven kingdoms. So without them, the world would panic and be ripe for the taking. And it seems Karl and the Smashers would die to see that dream appeased.

"IRIS! Do you have a signal range for the space bridge?!" Maverick yelled as he had an idea.

'I do.' IRIS confirmed.

"Then beam everyone out of here now!" Maverick ordered.

'Including the Flag Smashers-' IRIS almosted asked.

"Everyone!" Maverick barked the order.

Then IRIS obeyed and activated the space bridge from the Mav Club.

"Woah!" Rapunzel faded out of the room as she was beamed. Including Karl


Back in the room with Groot and the hostages they were being beamed out of the room. "I am Groo-" Groot was alarmed as he didn't get to finish or wonder why the room and the bomb was flashing red.


Back in the warehouse where Shift, Cassandra and the other guards concluded the fight by kicking the crap out of all the Flag Smasher troops. Some of the Smashers died at the hand of the Captain and some of the guards, due to them being the law and order or Corona and under the administration of the Kingdom, exercising their rights for self defense. But none of them were killed by Shift due to her being just a public protector. Seeing this was causing the Captain to think differently about Shift, and possibly the Maverick. As they all stood up to catch their breaths and were about to ask Shift questions. They all were alarmed as they were being pulled out of the room from light particles causing them to beam out.

"Woah wha-" The Captain exclaimed as he was teleported out with the others.


Then as fast as he could. Maverick teleported into the room with the bomb. Without hesitation he build up a wave of neon to cover the entire bomb just seconds before it detonated. As the timer reaches zero….

*BOOOM!*

The large blast was contained in his neon barrier. But it was still building up and the blast was heavy like a milds worth of seven kingdoms large. Maverick grunted and winced as his hands were clinging and fisted as he was keeping the blast contained. Then as a means to end it quickly. Maverick used the momentum of the blast and his neon and slammed the barrier down through the floor and sent it miles way below ground. And then he released a large light of fire and an eruption that felt like a massive earthquake went off below ground. Then Maverick didn't have time to catch his breath as he flew towards the exit.

Will he make it in time?


Back outside the meat packing warehouse…

Everyone was teleported out as Rapunzel. Cassandra. The Captain. Groot. Shift. The guards and the hostages were beamed out around the open fields as the evening sun was setting. Even Karl and the other remaining Flag Smashers that were injured and otherwise out cold were taken outside as well. As if Maverick set this area as a position for all of these people to reappear.

However. Rapunzel was teleported just behind bushes. Out of sight from the Captain and his guards. So they won't think that Maverick brought the Princess right into a dangerous mission. So Rapunzel looked around and quickly knelt behind the bushes to stay hidden and watch what happened next. Along with Pascal.

Stan and Pete, who were busy guarding the entrance, were both surprised as they ran to check on the Captain and the others. The horses Max and Fidella were out there also, along with several other horses. As everyone was away from the warehouse. The entire ground shook causing most of them to yelp and stumble. Before the meat packing warehouse crumbled and crashed around the area from an eruption of smoke and ashs puffing from below the rubble.

"Oh no." Rapunzel whispered as she and Pascal looked on in horror. She knew Maverick was still down there.

Even Cassandra looked worried as she stood with the guards, who were all either panicked from the Earthquake or confused. Or both.

Just then after seconds of silence. They saw some of the debris being moved as none other than the Maverick came out and used his strength to push all of the heavy rubble out of the way. Maverick huffed as his armor was covered in light cracks and dirt from both the fight and explosion. Then he looked around to see all of the royal guards standing around with the Captain in the middle.

They all were ready to draw their swords, and possibly arrest the Maverick. But as the last remaining light from the sun was shining over his suit and the horizon. Maverick took his steps and walked slowly towards them.

"Captain….He saved us all." One of the hostages breathed out of gratitude to the Maverick.

The Captain acknowledged those words as he watched the Maverick approach them. Rapunzel was watching from the bushes out of concern. While Cassandra was just as concerned as she was standing next to her father. Then Shift and Groot came walking up next to Maverick, showing they were together. All this time the Captain shared the same concern and skepticism the King had against the Maverick. But after seeing all of this. While he didn't fully understand how all of this heavy tech and machinery was possible. The Captain knew all of this was beyond their control and Maverick had no reason to help all of these people. But he did. The Captain couldn't ignore that.

Then Maverick stood up to the Captain. All of the guards were slowly easing up as they were understanding the same thing. The Maverick is not a menace or a rogue with no angle. He's a hero. A hero who asks for nothing in return. Groot and Shift smiling definitely helped with that.

"This man is not our enemy." The Captain stated to everyone and his men while looking at Maverick. And then Shift and Groot. "None of them are."

Cassandra grinned in response and Rapunzel all the way from the bushes smiled widely as she heard what the Captain stated. Even Pascal was smiling.

"Thank you Captain." Maverick nodded as he appreciated them finally understanding this.

Then on that note. The Maverick took off flying into the sky. While Groot and Shift were left standing. It's not like they can fly.

"Uh….What about us?!" Shift called out to Maverick. Then she and Groot began to phase from the particles of the space bridge and she sighed. "I really need to get my own remote."

Then she and Groot beamed away.

And on that note. Rapunzel managed to slip away without anyone noticing she was there. To keep herself from being discovered and her father finding out she helped the Maverick. Overprotective fathers are one thing. But that father being a King is ten stories higher.

With all of this concluded. The Guard brought over jail carriages and made arrests. As they were going to lock up all the remaining Flag Smashers. Including Karl. Thankfully the space bridge got rid of their weapons and any other means of them committing suicide. This means that the Flag Smashers are about to face justice for all those centuries of crimes against mankind.

And they all have Maverick and his friends to thank for that. As for Rapunzel, well. Soon the world will know the truth about the Princess. That there is more in her.


Later that night in the Throne room of Castle Corona…

King Frederic and Queen Ariana were receiving info about the returned workers that were saved by the Maverick, his tree companion and a newcomer named Shift. Rapunzel was in the room with her parents standing next to their thrones as they listened to Nigel's report on the many arrests of all the remaining members of the Flag Smashers and their leader. While the Princess was smiling as she felt proud of herself and her friends Orion, Friday and Groot for their bravery. Thankfully no one reported or saw Rapunzel at the scene of the crime. Cassandra knew, but she wouldn't tell a soul since Rapunzel and Eugene are keeping Cass's secret about her sneaking out with Rapunzel the night the Princess got her hair back.

Speaking of Eugene. He and Lance passed out in their rooms from getting drunk and reckless in Orion's kitchen. It's a good thing IRIS's auto cleaners were online to clean up after their mess. But still, those guys are going to suffer for their fun. #Hangover.

Cassandra also was glad to see her father's change of heart towards the Maverick. And now in a few minutes. Rapunzel's parents will finally know the truth.

"As for Karl Morgenthau. He will face justice for his crimes against the seven kingdoms. He and his remaining troops are being transferred over to the prison barge of the lost sea. The latter sentence will be decided as soon as the pending decisions of the other seven kingdoms have been decided." Nigel stated.

"Thank you for the info Nigel." Frederic nodded to his advisor.

"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty." Nigel bowed before he walked out to attend a report.

Once the King and Queen were alone with Rapunzel. The room started to Illuminate and glow blue and green on the floors and walls. Which both surprised and intrigued the King and Queen.

"Mom. Dad. Look!" Rapunzel pointed up at the ceiling.

The King and Queen looked up as their eyes widened to see the Maverick hovering above the Throne Room and slowly descending over to Rapunzel and her parents.

"You wanted to see me?" Maverick asked with a short bow of respect. "Also sorry, I never used the front door...Ignore that part."

Frederic was alarmed, but remained on his guard with a skeptical look.

"Then how did you get in here?" The King inquired.

While Ariana was silent but concerned as Rapunzel held her hand letting her mom know it's okay.

Maverick teleported out for a few seconds and then teleported back in. Which somewhat surprised Frederic.

"Like that." Maverick shrugged as he hovered and assured. "Don't be afraid, Your Majesty. I'm not here to cause trouble. And I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I can tell that you're sincere given what happened at the warehouse. But before we get into that subject, I need you to answer me just one question. If you don't mind." King Frederic spoke.

"By all means." Maverick agreed as he hovered with his hands behind his back.

"Tell me. Is it true that you are a chosen weirder of not one. But two keyblades?" King Frederic asked knowingly.

Rapunzel's eyes widened in shock hearing that. How does the king know about that?

But Maverick remained calm and stayed cool and in character despite hearing this.

"I am." Maverick nodded.

"Then you should know that as a keyblade wielder, it is a violation of your order to meddle in the affairs of other worlds." King Frederic pointed out firmly.

Maverick finally understood Frederic's skepticism about Maverick's actions

"So that's why you have doubts about me." Maverick understood.

"Warriors who can't honor their own order, can't be trusted to follow the rules of others." King Frederic said with stern authority as a King.

Which made Rapunzel look worried.

"That may be the case for all other keybladers. But not the Maverick." Maverick stated.

"Would you care to elaborate?" King Frederic inquired.

"Does... that mean explain?" Maverick looked confused

"Yes." Everyone deadpanned.

"Alright alright...Listen. Your Majesty. I don't follow the same rules as other keybladers. Because I'm not like the others. A Maverick is a mantle that's been passed down since the end of the Keyblade War. As a Maverick I am gifted with the jurisdiction of being independent. To fight outside the World order. To preserve it against scenarios where the limits of the order could make things complicated. I mean complicated for the others in the keychain." Maverick explained.

"And how long have you been doing this?" Frederic asked curiously.

"For as long as I can remember." Maverick admitted. It felt like his entire life. And like as if his previous life ended when his family and his sister Trish was murdered.

Rapunzel caught on to that statement feeling sympathy for Orion, but she remained silent.

"And your home world?" King Frederic asked.

"For now. This world. And soon it will be another. You could say, the whole multiverse is my home." Maverick answered honestly. "But I have to defend it on my terms."

King Frederic was slowing starting to understand.

"Hmmmm….Very well. What can you tell us about those machines that attacked us at the coronation? And the dragon during the Expo?" Frederic asked, recalling about the last two big attacks.

"You know them as the Dark Mongers. Their leader is a barbarian cyborg called Lash." Maverick displayed a hologram of Lash in front of the King. "I don't know what their Intentions are, or why they wreck Havoc all over Corona. But he mentioned some kind of 'corruption' that's coming to Corona. And he believes his actions are to alter the results of a war that's coming. Or 'wickedness' as he puts it. If you ask me. Despite him being a few clones short of a circus. He's dangerous and unpredictable. So far in spite of all the guards that have been hunting after me. All I can ever do is be prepared for their next move. At least the best way I can."

Frederic ponders Maverick's words and ask him another question with a skeptical look.

"Say that I call off the hunt, and pardon you of all crimes. How will we know that you won't one day act against Corona's interest?" King Frederic asked out of concern for the slight possibility that the Maverick could turn on them.

"You're right to ask. I understand." Maverick stated as he threw down a yellow folder with information in it.

Frederic looked curious as Rapunzel picked it up and opened it. The folder contained a glowing tube and a list of papers containing files. And a tube of glowing green chemicals that looked like acid.

"That tube contains a very powerful corrosive compound that can break through my armor, if needed." Maverick demonstrated by dropping a few of it from a tube of his own on his arm brace. Showing a little bit of his armor melting off and making himself wince a bit.

"And these papers?" Ariana asked.

"It contains the info on everything I have about the Flag Smashers and their criminal records. Their leader almost died due to their code of suicide. But if any are left out there. That list will help you find the remaining members on the borders of Corona." Maverick explained. "I'm already working on that little clean up myself, but you can at least do your part."

Frederic was astonished that Maverick was trusting him with the info and the stuff that could otherwise kill him.

"Why put yourself at risk despite our lack of trust?" King Frederic asked out of surprise.

"Your Majesty. I made a promise a long time ago, to protect the multiverse with all that I am. And that includes Corona." Maverick stated sincerely. "Your lack of faith in me doesn't come from a bad place. Because we share the same concern and we both love this kingdom. Which is why I'm trusting you to take me down, if ever I one day fail to live up to that oath and become a threat to Corona...Or if I end up being mind controlled. Whichever comes first." Maverick explained. "I'm on your side. But I can't do my job completely if I have to keep running from your guards."

'Good point.' Rapunzel thought with a grin while listening.

"I don't ask for anything in return. But I'm giving you an opportunity. There are dark forces in this world. Not just from the outside. I've seen the horrors that are capable of enemies on both ends. And I believe that a war is coming to Corona. You'll see in those files, an example of someone who tried to start that war early and it failed, but not without casualties from some of the victims." Maverick stated clearly, then he stood in front of the King as Frederic stood up with his face reading intrigue.

Rapunzel was listening and standing as well, while her mother stayed in her seat while she listened.

"Your Majesty. All I ask. Is that you make a choice. You can either resume the hunt for my hide. I won't hold it against you if you do. Or we can set aside all misunderstandings and work together. Because when things start coming to a head, you're going to need all hands on deck to win. And that's what I'm here to do. To stay. To fight. And to win." Maverick stated heroically and confidently. "I've made my point with all the lives I've saved and the sacrifices I've made. And now it's your turn to decide whether or not you'll stand with me. But rest assured. I won't fight back if you stand against me. Because I see nothing dark in you."

"What do you see in me?" Frederic asked him.

"I see a man who's been through hell and back. And found peace. And he's trying everything he can to not lose the one thing he can't live without." Maverick stated to the point which impressed the King. "I don't have much to lose. But I don't like to see anyone suffer. And I can tell you feel the same, and made the same promises. The question you have to ask yourself is. What steps are you willing to make to fulfill that promise? I know my place. And I know what steps I'll make. But now, it's up to you."

And on that note. Maverick teleported out of the room. Leaving the King alone with the Princess and Queen. And with a new found judgment and respect towards the Maverick. Frederic pondered his next move before he settled with a decision.

A few minutes later, the Captain walked in with Stand and Pete after they heard from Nigel that they were summoned.

"You wanted to see us, Your Majesty?"

"Yes Captain. After much deliberation I have made the decision to call off on the manhunt for the Maverick." The King stated to all who were standing there.

In spite of Pete and Stan's surprise and utter shock to hear the King make that statement. The Captain agreed. The Maverick saved all of them back there. And the Captain agreed with King Frederic's decision. In light of everything that has happened.

Yes, Your Majesty. I'll have my men take down all the wanted posters." The Captain nodded respectively believing the Maverick is on their side now.

This made Rapunzel both happy and excited that Orion is no longer an enemy to the kingdom.

"Welp, now that that's settled I'm gonna head out with Cassandra." Rapunzel said as she walked faster towards the exit of the throne room. "Oh and if someone could check on Eugene later and see how he's doing? Tell hom if he ever goes out drinking with Lance again, I'll add two lumps to his detox tea."

"Okay Sweetheart. Go on and have fun." Ariana smiled and stiffed a chuckle at that little joke.

"And Rapunzel?" Frederic called to her.

"Yes Dad?" Rapunzel turned back.

"You were right." Frederic smiled at her.

"I know." Rapunzel said with a smile on her face as she now left the throne room.

Even though she hasn't settled the matter and reality of the black rocks with her father yet. This is a huge step for not only the Princess. But also for the Maverick.


Later at Orion's Mansion...

Orion was asleep on the couch with Friday. Orion was wearing a red Spider-Man t-shirt with long gray pajamas while Friday was wearing a blue Spider-Man t-shirt with short pink pajamas. Orion was sleeping on Friday's lap while Friday's mouth was open snoring real out while her head hung back. They were all tired after the day they had. And were relieved to have settled in a place to call home. And a really good place at that. Granted Orion and Friday soon plan to venture across the stars of the other worlds. But for now. Que Sera Sera.

Groot was asleep on the chair with his face fallen over in a bowl of popcorn. And the TV was on a loop of Spider-Man 2002 Blu-ray menu.

Suddenly they heard the doorbell ring.

*Metal Avengers Theme*

"I'll get it..." Orion muttered as he teleported over to the front door and opened it. "We don't want any..."

But instead of a salesman. It's Rapunzel and Cassandra. Orion shook his head to clear his vision as he seemed surprised.

"Ladies?" Orion nodded.

"Hey Orion, you weren't sleeping just now we're you?" Rapunzel asked, seeing Orion's sleepy face.

"Eh. It's fine. Just..." Orion yawned. "Long day. Lot of ass whoopin. You know the drill. So. What up?"

Orion was starting to wake up as he checked the time. It was only five minutes after seven which is early for him. So why not have company? So he allowed Rapunzel and Cassandra to come in, and he closed the door behind them.

"I needed to talk to you about that vile you gave to my Dad." Rapunzel said in a worried tone.

Orion raised an eyebrow and looked more awake. "And?" He asked.

"Are you sure that it's okay to give my Father the one thing that'll hurt you? I mean I know that he won't use it, but there are a few bandits and thieves that would do anything to get their hands on that vile, probably even Lady Cain." Rapunzel said as was thinking about the dangerous possibilities.

"And they don't know about it." Orion pointed out.

"Except you're putting yourself at risk for giving him that stuff. People try to break into the castle all the time and it's a miracle they never found anything that could kill you." Cassandra stated feeling just as concerned.

"Which is why they won't find it. I overheard a meeting with the King and Captain. They agreed to lock it in a secret vault that's never been found." Orion revealed.

"How do you know?" Cassandra asked.

"Super hearing. I hear everything that goes around. from twenty miles away. Even behind the walls." Orion stated and looked back. "Put that case of Bang down Groot! You know what that does to your Photosynthesis level!"

"Ah...I am Groot..." Groot's sulking echoed.

Orion rolled his eyes and gestured Rapunzel and Cassandra to come into the living room while he locked the front door. Pascal was on Rapunzel's shoulder while Cassandra's owl perched on the head of Stan Lee's Statue.

"I hope you went before you came!" Orion called out to the owl.

Hinting that Owl might drop a few on Stan Lee.

"Hoot?" Owl tilted his head in confusion.

Then Orion resumed his conversation with Rapunzel.

"Look. Your Dad. Or in this case both of your Dads. From their point of view, they're taking a bigger risk than I am. Letting the Public now trust a total stranger with glowing abilities in a suit of armor. And they don't even know that he's a kid living alone with two aliens and a Playstation." Orion stated.

"What's a Playstation?" Cassandra asked, looking confused.

Orion was really referring to IRIS with that reference.

"Oh Nineteenth Century Brother Grims are missing out." Orion's face palmed himself.

"Orion I appreciate you earning my Dad's trust like that, but the things people could do with that compound. I just can't imagine if it falls into the wrong hands." Rapunzel protested.

"Point being is that it's not in the wrong hands. And I repeat. Your Dads are taking a huge risk trusting me. And if I don't return that trust. Then I don't deserve theirs, and I'll be no better than the people they lock up." Orion stated. "Zel. They don't know about my identity so I'm safe. But this is the only way for your Dad, the Captain and everyone else to feel safe whenever I'm around."

Rapunzel just sighed knowing that he's right.

"Now is there any other reason you two dropped by. Besides Cass seeing the place for the first time? What do you think?" Orion gestured around the main hall and family room to Cassandra.

"Not gonna lie Forge, you have great taste." Cassandra complimented Orion's vert creative taste in luxury.

"And I just wanted to hangout with you, and who's that on that flat box?" Rapunzel asked, pointing at the man in a red and blue suit swinging on the TV.

"TV. That's a TV. As in television." Orion reminded Rapunzel what that really is since he told her about television and cable and blu ray DVDs when they would hang out and have pastries in the town.

"Oooh. So that guy in the flat box is Television." Rapunzel responded with exciting interest as she stepped over for a closer look. Referring to Spider-Man as literally the TV.

"No he means the metal flat device that the guy is in." Friday explained, gesturing to the TV.

Friday was now wide awake after hearing their conversation and agreeing with Orion's judgment while understanding Rapunzel's concern.

Orion pinched the bridge on his nose as he realized it's going to take a while to understand.

"Alright let's start over." Orion said as he walked back to the couch. Ready to start the movie and show Rapunzel what he means.


One movie viewing later…..

Orion allowed Cassandra and Rapunzel to watch the Spider-Man movie for the first time. Seeing what Orion's childhood was like. While also seeing what his modern world was like through this amazing fantasy. And boy Rapunzel was getting into it deeply. So deep that she thought she needed to use her frying pan in case anyone interrupted the movie. Her frying pan was no longer chrome due to the effects having worn off on the metal. That and Rapunzel returned the mods that were attached so Orion could work on them later.

So as they were approaching the ending…..

"Whatever life holds in store for me... ...I will never forget these words: "With great power comes great responsibility." This is my gift. My curse. Who am I?"*** Spider-Man narrated as Peter walked off with a look of confidence toward the future. ***"I'm Spider-Man."

Then the ending music played as Spider-Man swung across the city with his costume fixed and doing some really awesome signature tricks that made history.

Including the double swing and landing on the American Flag. Before he gives a final swing towards the camera.

"And that was Spider-Man's first movie. and the movie to kick start many more Marvel films to come." Orion stated with a smile as the credits rolled.

"Woah, that was intense." Rapunzel said as she flopped down on the sofa, feeling her eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

"So...Did you like it?" Orion asked, hoping she did.

"Like it? Like it? I LOVE IT!" Rapunzel exclaimed, startling everyone in the room and gushed. "Everything I've just seen from the beginning, the buildings, the chariot, the lights, the balloons, everything from your world. Oooh It just makes me wish I could see it in person!"

"I could make it happen one day." Orion muttered to himself.

"Huh?" Rapunzel couldn't hear.

"Nothing. Um...Anyhow. When will you be available for another movie night?" Orion asked.

"Probably this Saturday, if we're lucky, I might not do anything on that day." Rapunzel said in hope that she doesn't have to do any Princess relay stuff.

"Same here. I usually hang the armor around the weekend if nothing serious is happening." Orion agreed."So...Saturday?"

Orion held his hand out for a handshake deal.

"Saturday." Rapunzel smiled as she shook Orion's hand sealing the deal.

Then after a few more words and questions about the movie and the sequel to Spider-Man. Rapunzel and Cassandra were walking out the door with some cans of soda for the road and to spare. Orion was saying goodnight to the ladies.

"Lord I'm beat." Orion yawned as he walked with Rapunzel and Cassandra to the door. "Thanks for stopping by, good night ladies. See you all tomorrow and Saturday. Hint Hint."

Rapunzel smiled and pulled the boy into a hug. "Thank you Orion." Rapunzel said a sincere tone as she will never forget this night.

Orion returned the hug naturally as they have gotten closer since the Expo. Every day Orion is seeing more and more of Trish in Rapunzel. But at the same time. Rapunzel is naturally unique in her own way. And Orion is embracing that as well.

And it's something he's starting to love.


After that moment...

Right after Cass and Rapunzel went home. Orion and Friday went up stairs as Groot went into his bedroom.

"Do you like your room?" Orion asked Friday as he gestured to the room across the hall from Orion's room. Showing how big those rooms are for them.

Orion singled out for Friday and gave it the Kree design she loved from home while adding in her own personal style she adores. So they can have privacy. Which is natural for young lovers that aren't married and it wouldn't look like shacking.

That, and Orion always wants Friday to be happy with him.

"You always have a way to make me smile, Beluva." Friday said as she went over to Orion and she gave him a passionate kiss.

"I love you, Blueberry." Orion whispered as he shared the kiss back with Friday as they embraced.

"I love you too Sparky." Friday replies as the kiss continued.

"I! Am! Groot! Groot echoed from his room as he was cranky and wanted some peace and quiet to sleep. Which translated: "If either of you don't sleep, I'll send you both to Paris with no way to come back!"

"Ah go blow it out your yule logs!...And also sure!" Orion replied back.

Friday giggled and said. "Anyway. Goodnight Beluva."

"Goodnight. Oh and I look forward to working with you on my next mission. Shift." Orion winked hinting Friday's hero name with a grin.

Showing that he truly does approve of her being there with him when he's the Maverick.

"Looking forward to it." Friday smiled back as she was happy to finally go on missions with him.

And on that note they went to their wonderful bedrooms of their wonderful new home. Orion laid down on his bed. Friday laid down on her bed and Rapunzel laid down in her bed back at the castle. And Pascal was drifting off to sleep on a hanging piece of wood above Rapunzel's bed like a lizard in a tree.

All of them felt wonderful. Orion feels like Trish is coming back through Rapunzel. Rapunzel feels like things are looking ahead with Orion now approved by her parents and Corona. Which means they can be together more and hang out more. So many possibilities filled Rapunzel's mind as they all were thinking about the good that might happen in the future. And Friday can now live up to her own potential as Shift.

Suddenly as their hearts were connecting. The magic of Fantasia was taking effect.

"Every Night I lie in bed~ The brightest colors fill my head~ A million dreams are keeping me awaaaake~" Rapunzel sang as she looked out her window. As if Orion and Rapunzel's heart was connecting to Orion's heart. "I think of what the world could be~ A vision of the one I see~ A million dreams is all it's gonna taaaake~"

Friday was lying in her bed smiling. "A million dreams for the world we're gonna make~" She sang softly.

"For the world we're gonna make." Orion whispered to himself confidently. Before he fell sleep with a smile on his face.

Here's to hoping they always have a reason to smile. No matter what else comes next.


THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS! 😁

Finally! I'm sorry this chapter took a while. I think I'll now focus on the main KH II story for a while before writing more to this one. But I hope this one was satisfying. I'll add more to this story when another idea pops in my head. But I have plans for the later episodes of Tangled. Including the Mid Season Finale and the Finale of Season One.

I also plan to do a separate One Shot taking place in the middle ending of the chapter. Where Cassandra and Rapunzel are viewing the first Spider-Man film with Orion, Friday and Groot. 👍 ️📺

I must also remind you all just in case. Orion may be in Varian's place. But that doesn't mean Varian isn't in it. Because in this story, Varian is a baby. 👶🍼🐣

Any how. That's all I have time to write. Gotta hit the hay so I can wake up in the morning. Can't miss the movie. 😁.

Thank you all so much for reading! If you have any questions please leave them with your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to add this story to your Faves and Follows if like what you see.

And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!

FISTBUMP!👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊