Issue 6: Against a Cabal

The Chimera

The teams have returned to their Helicarrier base, exhausted from their recent battles. Peter nodded to Strange and said, "Hey Doc. Did everything go well?"

Strange replied, "In a way. It appears our enemies have already made a move."

Mario asked, "Really? What happened?"

Mega Man spoke up, "They came to bring me back to the Chimera, then Wilson Fisk attacked. It turns out he, MODOK and the Super-Adaptoid wanted to catch us by surprise…"

"Huh. Well Junior, the Koopalings and their Piranha Plant tried to get the element of surprise on us." Sonic revealed, "Obviously it didn't work, but you know, A for effort I guess."

"It seems the Cabal are wasting no time if they intend to attack all of us." Strange revealed.

Peter raised his hands, "Back up. Did you say Cabal? As in… another one?! Come on, as if the first one wasn't bad enough…"

Yang crossed her arms, "We already pummeled three of them. It can't be any harder than last time." she commented.

Miles scratches his head, "I dunno. They handed us our butts on a silver platter the first time we found them."

"It WON'T happen a second time," Shadow declared, "We were sloppy, uncoordinated, unprepared. Sephiroth and his Cabal will pay for making a mockery of us."

"Us? Wow, Shadow, you've become quite a team player." Sonic quipped.

"Hmph." Shadow huffed.

Spider-Man said, "We should debrief the Barons at the War Table, they need to know the Cabal's already back on the move. Last thing we need is for one of the Houses to fall apart because they weren't ready for Sephiroth."

"Right." Mario agreed.

"And I have a matter to attend to. A means to gain help in this conflict." Strange revealed.

"Good luck, Doc." Miles replied.

Peter, Miles and Sonic walked to the War Table, where Carina was still searching for any clues to the villains' whereabouts, "Anything, Carina?" Peter asked.

Carina shook her head, "Nope. I have no idea how, but it's like they just vanished. It's so weird…"

Sonic shrugged, "I wouldn't worry about that right now. They might just come to us anyway."

"Really?" the young Elder asked.

"Yep. We ran into a few of them while we were out searching, honestly it made our job way easier than we planned." the younger Spider-Man quipped.

"Good for us, then," Carina joked.

Peter dusted himself off and activated the War Table, receiving holographic projections of each leader of the domains, "Hey guys, been awhile right?" he quipped then sobered up, "Look, we have to warn you guys, the Cabal's already on the move and it seems they have some criminals from your domains joining them."

President Sharon Carter looked curious, "Cabal? Is this the name of the alliance?"

Sonic nodded, "Yeah. They got us by surprise in Donut Plains, I'm thinkin' they want us out of the picture now that we're splitting up."

"Hm. Peculiar how they know your movements, yet we cannot track their own whereabouts." Madame Web commented, her own psychic powers being unable to track the Cabal.

"Eh. If it means making our jobs easier I'll take it. We just want you all to be ready in case they keep doing this." Peter said, "You all have what it takes to hold them back after all."

"That is true. We shall make preparations for a defense plan." Baron X agreed.

"The same with New Wakanda." Baroness Panther said.

"The Slingers have already assembled." Madame Web revealed.

Stark Prime nodded, "And you already know the Iron Legion's already back in action."

"We Asgardians have longed for a battle such as this. Bring it on!" War Thor bellowed.

President Carter spoke up, "And of course, the Super Soldiers are prepared for such occasions. We thank you for this warning, Summoner."

"No problem." Peter rubbed his aching head before ending the call.

"I can tell you're getting tired of playing leader." Sonic quipped.

"You have no idea…" Peter sighed, "I miss New Vale already. I'm so tired of cosmic battles for the fate of everything…"

Ken, leaning on a nearby wall next to Ryu, asked, "You already did this before, why the hesitation now?"

Peter shrugged, "When we all got back home… something big went down, something rivaling the Secret Wars. And just when I thought things could finally go back to normal, THIS happens."

Ryu nodded, "I do understand. While I enjoy exploring new lands such as this, it can be tiring for one who has a home. Just know even here you are not alone."

"Yeah, this is freaky for me," Miles admitted, "But if being here means we can avoid another Infinity War, then I don't regret my decision."

Peter nodded, "Hm. I guess I'll suck it up just one more time. The Cabal won't beat themselves."

"That's the spirit, Pete," Sonic cheered for his friend.

Meanwhile in another room, Blake opened her eyes, her head still sore, "Oh man… what happened?" she turned her head, seeing Kaine and Ruby close by, "Oh hey guys…"

"Blake!" Ruby shouted happily for her friend.

"About time." Kaine muttered.

"...What did I miss?" Blake asked, recalling the earlier battle.

"A lot somehow! Those guys we fought called themselves the Cabal, and we're stuck here." Ruby revealed.

The Faunus blinked, "...We are?"

Kaine sighed, "We are. Somehow those assholes blocked us off from Mobiant Earth, we're all we got."

"Great…" Blake muttered sarcastically, sitting up now that she's better, "Might as well get back to work."

She stood up and wandered over to the main room, surprising Peter, "Hey Blake, I see you're finished your cat nap."

"...Shut up…" the Faunus muttered.

"So uh… are you going to help us ALREADY?" Miles asked in disbelief.

Blake nodded, "Of course. Kaine and Ruby told me everything, since I'm up, I might as well help you all, rest be damned."

"Alright. You can join us the next time we head out," Peter told her, "How about you, Kaine? Are you joining us?"

Scarlet Spider shook his head, "Nah, I'll join the other patrol, pretty sure she's already sick of me keeping an eye on her anyway." he quipped. Blake rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say," Peter replied, "We'll head out once Strange is done with… whatever it is he's doing."

In another room of the Chimera, Doctor Strange sat and closed his eyes, focusing on something beyond the physical plane of Battleworld, "Come on…" he muttered, hoping to find something that could give them an advantage.

Fox passed by and peeked his head in, "What's the matter, doc?"

Strange kept his eyes closed and spoke, "I am trying to breach into the barrier keeping us in Battleworld. I pray the nexus allows me to call for an ally…" he scowled, sensing something, "Wait…"

"What is it?" Fox asked.

"I… I found someone." Strange revealed, "Their aura is… new. It seems I caught the attention of someone who wishes to join our cause. If I can just…" he muttered, raising his hands and performing a summoning spell.

Fox was confused, wondering how he was able to do this. A figure appeared via a light, blinding Fox briefly. Once it faded he saw a red-haired woman wearing armor of the same color appear, "Whoa… that was crazy…" she gasped, looking at her new surroundings.

Strange opened his eyes, "Greetings, I am unsure of how you found us, but… we could use the back up. You joining our effort is appreciated."

"No problem! Gives me a good reason to stretch my legs. Name's Pyra." Pyra introduced herself to the sorcerer, putting down her sword, "Let's just say I'm more powerful than I let on." she explained her appearance.

"I see. Well… we should get you acquainted I suppose." Fox said.

"I'm all ears," replied Pyra.

"My allies. We have found another that has joined our cause," Strange revealed to the Champions, "By temporarily breaching the barrier, I have gained the assistance of a warrior by the name of Pyra."

"You were able to do that?" Peter asked.

Strange said, "Yes. But I fear I may not be able to do much of that, we were lucky she discovered my aura."

Shulk smiled upon seeing Pyra, "Pyra! It has been a while!"

"Shulk? You're here too?" Pyra questioned, surprised to see her old ally.

"Huh. Another reunion," Peter quipped.

"We met once before," Shulk revealed, "It was brief, but I'd say all of us got along. Where is Rex?"

Pyra answered, "Still home. I don't think he even knows I left."

"We're sorry to drag you into this," Peter apologized.

"It's no trouble," Pyra replied happily.

Scarlet Spider crossed his arms, "Whatever makes our job easier I guess."

"Hey this guy looks familiar," a voice only Pyra could hear said.

"Know this guy?" Pyra asked the voice.

"Darn right, I got some choice words for him," the voice revealed.

"If you say so."

Pyra closed her eyes, the jewel on her head glowing. In the blink of an eye she vanished. Standing on her spot was a blonde woman wearing white armor, also wielding a blade. The woman opened her eyes and smiled, glad to be able to introduce herself.

"What the heck?" Miles asked, "Who are you? Where's Pyra?"

"I'm Mythra, as for Pyra, she's fine. Consider this a… change in the driver's seat as it were." Mythra explained her body change.

"...Right." Peter muttered.

Kaine narrowed his eyes, "Something about you seems familiar…"

Mythra rolled her eyes, "Yeah, you used me as a puppet for power."

"Oh right, a Spirit." Kaine recalled, "Didn't think anyone would remember."

"I DO remember. A disgusting beast of a driver using my power… Horrible use of it, I must say to have one with your soul use my Spirit." Mythra growled over someone like Kaine using her power.

Kaine gritted his teeth, "Well it was either not use you or let the multiverse get destroyed."

"I don't appreciate being used like a puppet, especially someone like you," Mythra replied in disgust.

"Only five minutes…" Kaine sighed.

"Easy guys…" Peter got between the two.

"Okay that's enough, I'm coming back." Pyra said, taking control once more and taking Mythra's spot.

Kaine crossed his arms and stayed silent as Pyra spoke, "I don't think she likes you."

"What gave you THAT idea?" Scarlet Spider quipped in a huff.

"It's easy to upset Kaine anyhow," Peter said, "But whatever her problem is, she has to get over it. We're… kind of a team here."

"Champions right? Good name," Pyra complimented.

"Well thanks, it's not my name but I like it," Peter admitted.

"It is a catchy team name." Miles commented.

"So does this mean you're ready, Strange?" Sonic asked.

"I am." Strange answered.

"Then we'll head out in a few." Peter declared.

Unknown

In their secret location, the Cabal schemed. Sephiroth chuckled, "Hmph. It seems those Champions have decided to show themselves so soon, what a mistake that was."

"No kidding! Junior would've pummeled them if they didn't cheat!" Bowser slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

"Or maybe it's because your son is an incompetent failure," Green Goblin remarked coldly.

Bowser's mouth started to flare up a fireball in anger, "Do NOT insult my boy!" he roared, ready to scorch Norman then and there.

"Bring it, turtle boy!" Goblin snarled.

Their feud was interrupted by Sephiroth's Masamune being held out between them, "Gentlemen, we are above such squabbling. After all, you do not want to tempt me, am I correct in that assumption?" he smugly asked the villains.

Bowser and Green Goblin looked away, disgusted with each other. Sephiroth continued, "We are here to destroy the Champions, not each other. Forget that, and you will see the consequences." he reminded the Cabal.

"Fine…" Bowser huffed.

"So what is our next choice of action?" Ganondorf wondered:

"It's quite simple, Ganondorf. We deliver the element of surprise on the Champions, giving them threats they will never anticipate. We WILL win with our trump card." Eggman explained with a maniacal grin.

"Ah yes, the emeralds. I cannot wait to use such power on those Champions," Mysterio said.

Sephiroth frowned, "It better be worth the effort. Now if excuse me…" he wandered into a different room and closed the door behind him. He opened his palms, one covered in light and another in darkness.

The SOLDIER smiled, "Fascinating…" he muttered in awe, sensing the powers of Galeem and Dharkon grow stronger within him. He shot two energy balls out of his hands, then swung his blade, enveloping it in an aura of darkness, "This is perfect. Be warned Cloud, I shall return momentarily."

He continued mastering these new powers, ready for his inevitable rematch with the one he hated most,

MJR Here: Another calm chapter before the gauntlet continues. And with this being another slow chapter, I felt now was the time to introduce Pyra and Mythra into the story now that they're revealed for Smash. I believe this will be it for any future sudden additions though.

Next Time: Return to Wakanda! Battle against two kings!