Hi everyone, thanks again for your patience. This is a very interesting chapter that I've been looking forward to writing, particularly toward the end as I have a special twist in mind that could affect my entire series as a whole. You'll see when we get there. Now, with all that being said, let's get started.
Walk This Way
It was a rainy and stormy night in Meridian as Lurdens and soldiers under Phobos' rule worked on a massive wooden crane with a large spike being slowly risen. This was a primitive, yet very large and imposing drill. As the Lurdens and soldiers worked; Caleb and a team of rebels laid in hiding underneath the grass, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
"So Phobos' latest weapon is what? An overgrown gardening tool?" Caleb questioned sarcastically.
"He's looking for tunnels going underneath the Meridian planes and into the castle." Drake, Caleb's fellow rebel and friend, answered.
"We don't have any tunnels, Drake. I wish we did." Caleb replied.
"But if he digs deep enough…"
"I know." Caleb already knew what his comrade was implying. "He can break through into the Infinite City. Is everyone ready?"
"We're all set and ready to move in." Drake replied.
"And everyone has at least one onion?" Caleb asked.
"Yes, but I'm still unsure how an onion of all things is supposed to ward off a floating demon head." Drake said, sounding unsure as he took out an onion from his pocket.
"Don't ask me." Caleb stated. "I gave up trying to understand magic a long time ago."
"But we're still ready nonetheless." Drake said. "What's our signal?"
However, before Caleb could respond, Blunk, who had just stolen some trinkets and trash from the castle, tripped as he tried to run past the rebels, causing him to drop and spill his stolen goods, causing a commotion that got the Lurdens' attention and blew their cover.
"Not what Caleb think!" Blunk quickly tried to make an excuse. "Blunk just doing… metal laundry."
"Looks like that's our signal!" Caleb stated as they heard the alarming roars of the Lurden hordes.
Caleb drew his katana, as the rebels all drew their respective weapons as well and led the charge on the Lurdens and enemy soldiers. They clashed swords, spears, knives, and axes against shields, clubs, other swords and similar weapons. Despite many of the rebels appearing rather young, they were able to hold their own in the fight rather well. All save for Blunk who tried to run and find cover back at the castle of all places.
Meanwhile, at the outer wall of the castle, Cedric, in his human form, observed the fighting but didn't seem remotely concerned about it. He wasn't alone however as a certain floating demon head phased through the stone wall behind him to observe the battle.
"So, this is the rebellion that has been giving you and Phobos trouble this past decade?" Tarakudo asked.
"Indeed." Cedric confirmed. "They've been quite bothersome, even more so since their affiliation with Chan and the Guardians."
"Hmm, perhaps I should test their strength myself." Tarakudo mused, indicating he was looking forward to a fight.
"That won't be necessary, Tarakudo. I have something better in mind." Cedric smiled evilly as he snapped his fingers, allowing a Lurden to walk forward and bring him a chest. Cedric opened to reveal a golden, curved, horn-like instrument.
Back on the battlefield, Caleb had climbed onto the drill's platform and drawn his katana to block and parry the axe-strike from one Lurden before delivering a kick to knock the Lurden down into the water below. A second Lurden tried to impale him with his spear, but Caleb swerved to the side and gave a downward slice to not only cut through the spear but send the Lurden sliding off the ledge.
Caleb took the moment to look at his new weapon. "Swift and light, yet sharp and powerful with enough force…" He smiled. "The samurai sure knew how to make good weapons." However, this left him vulnerable for a third Lurden to hit him from behind with a club and send him falling into the water below.
The second Caleb sank into the water, Cedric had already blown into the horn, while Tarakudo watched with interest. Though Caleb was unable to hear the sound due to being underwater, the second the rebel soldiers and Lurdens all heard it, they instantly stopped fighting.
When Caleb emerged from the water, he was beyond shocked at what he saw. "What…?" Both the Lurdens and his fellow rebels, were in a trance-zombie-like state. Their eyes had grown dull, and they had just stood there, as if nothing in this world mattered to any of them.
"Hmmm, impressive." Tarakudo noted as he saw Cedric put the horn away.
However, neither of them noticed Blunk hiding around the corner behind them as he saw the horn as well. "Oooh, pretty horn for Blunk."
Earth – Heatherfield
Will rode on her bike when she happened to pass by Matt's house as she heard some music coming from his garage. This was enough for her to stop and listen to the music. As she got off her bike, she walked closer and tried to listen more through the closed garage door, smiling and tapping her foot to the rhythm as she felt her own heart pounding with it. Before she knew it, she was already dancing to the rhythm
However, she wasn't expecting the garage door to open, causing her to stumble as the music stopped. "Will?" Matt looked in surprise, clearly not expecting to see her.
"Oh… Matt!" She tried to hide her blush. "Sorry… I… I was just passing through…" She stuttered while also showing her bike. "I heard you guys' playing and well… sorry."
Matt still smiled. "Huh, didn't know we had an audience. No worries."
This caused Will some kind of relief, though she felt a tad embarrassed. "So, you guys done with practice?"
Matt winced slightly. "Nah, one of us had a burrito for lunch…extra beans." He looked to the drummer, who just smiled innocently.
"Okay…" Will backed away, feeling that was a bit TMI. "So… you gut a gig going on soon?"
"Yeah, we're playing at the school Friday night." Matt said. "You wanna go with me?"
Will's smile instantly brightened. "Yes! Heck yes!" She quickly faked a cough and tried to act cool. "I mean… sure, yeah. See yeah there."
"Yeah, see yeah." Matt closed the garage once the air was cleared. With the door closed, Will couldn't resist raising both her fists into the air.
"Looks like you're set for that dance, huh?" A certain black-haired girl observed with crossed arms and a smirk behind Will.
"Oh, big time, Jade." Will's eyes suddenly widened before turning to the girl. "Jade?!"
"Hi Will." She waved causally.
"You… but how… I…" Will stopped her stammering once she remembered just who her friend was. "You just love doing that, don't you?"
"Hey, it's my thing." Jade shrugged nonchalantly.
Uncle's Rare Finds.
Within the back of the shop, Jackie and Uncle tried to work with the Hanafuda Cards so they could find information on the next Oni mask. They tried to rearrange it in the way Tohru had described it for them as he tried to decipher more of the legend that they had procured from Shendu's palace.
"Nothing." Jackie said as this was the fifth attempt, they tried to rearrange the cards. "Still no sign of the nest Oni Mask."
"Hmm, perhaps the mask itself must be revealed first. Or… the spirit trapped within the mask has a choice over it." Uncle mused.
"Anything from the legend, Tohru?" Jackie asked.
"No." Tohru said as he put the magnifying glass down. "It depicts the defeat of Tarakudo's generals, but it only contains instructions on how the first mask was made."
Jackie took a look at the large tablet himself. "These ridges imply that this tablet is only a piece to something bigger."
"Perhaps Shendu only obtained information on the first Oni mask because he only sought to wield the power of one tribe of Shadowkhan." Uncle theorized.
"Why only one? Why not wield them all?" Jackie asked. "If he wanted to rule the Earth, all nine tribes of Shadowkhan could cover the planet in eternal darkness, right?"
"Shendu likely assumed that doing so could risk the return of the Oni." Uncle continued. "He must have destroyed to prevent that happening, as we have seen that Tarakudo could have the power to even rival Shendu himself."
"Which means, the Hanafuda Cards are the only edge we have in our battle against Tarakudo." Tohru said.
"And seeing how Tarakudo is now working with Phobos, they clearly have the advantage." Jackie said with a reluctant sigh. "Why can't fighting the Forces of Darkness ever be simple?"
"If it were so simple, Forces of Darkness could never be real threat." Uncle stated as though it were obvious.
Suddenly, they heard the shop's bell ring as the trio went into the main room to see Caleb, clearly out of breath as he leaned his hands against the front desk, appearing to have run all the way here. "Caleb? What are you doing here?"
"Where are the girls?" Caleb asked, trying to catch his breath. "We have a problem."
Silver Dragon
"Okay, exact words, Will." Taranee said as she, Jade, Irma, Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Alchemy sat at the same table as their leader.
"You wanna go with me?" She repeated Matt's words with a wide smile.
"As an eye-witness, I can confirm that myself." Jade said.
"Date. Definitely, a date." Hay Lin immediately said with the other girls voicing their agreements as well. Will, meanwhile, had a love-struck smile as the image of Matt playing the guitar was all she could think about right now.
"I cannot believe Will has a date to the dance, and I don't." Cornelia said in an annoyed tone.
"Cause maybe you're too high maintenance?" Jade joked.
"Burn!" Irma chuckled as she and Jade shared a high-five while Cornelia glared at the pair.
"Ah don't worry, Cornelia." Alchemy tried to console her friend. "I'm sure you'll find a guy who'd love to go with you."
Almost directly on cue, the door to the restaurant opened as Jackie, Uncle, Tohru, and Caleb at the restaurant. "Girls. We have a situation." Jackie said, getting all their attention.
"Oh yes we do." Cornelia smirked as she stood up and walked toward a certain young rebel. "Dance this Friday, but I don't have a date." She cast a glance at Caleb. "Oh, if there was only a certain rebel who would be willing to ask… OW!"
"Now is not time to worry about silly dance!" Uncle chastised Cornelia after dope-slapping her.
"What's going on?" Will asked, already getting serious and focused on the situation.
"Somehow, Caleb's friends in the rebellion are being controlled and forced to work for Phobos." Tohru explained, surprising the girls.
"What? How the heck did that happen?" Hay Lin asked.
"I don't know." Caleb answered. "They… they just stopped fighting. All the Lurdens and guards stopped too. They all just stood there, staring, until Cedric gave them a command."
"To do what?" Taranee asked.
"From what Caleb told us, Phobos has been working to construct a drill-mechanism that could potentially breach the rebel's base in the Infinite City." Jackie answered.
"Why would they need a drill for that when old Mr. Oni King can literally pop up anywhere?" Irma asked.
"I had Tohru and Uncle here make an Anti-Oni Onion spell at the Infinite City's entrance to keep Tarakudo from entering." Caleb answered. "We've already begun stocking up on onions as well just in case."
"Way to think ahead." Alchemy noted.
"Getting back to the issue, did maybe Tarakudo brainwash the rebels into helping Cedric?' Will asked.
"No, it wasn't him." Yan Lin soon walked onto the scene. "From the sound of it, it would seem that the rebels and Lurdens have become Trance-Marchers. Simply put, something similar to zombies. Only they don't eat living flesh… unless ordered too."
"Ew! Too much information!" Jade winced.
"Is there a way to snap them out of it?" Caleb asked.
"That is a question I'm afraid only the Mage can answer." Yan Lin replied.
"Who's the Mage?" Alchemy asked.
"An old lady who knows how magic works." Jade gave a brief summation.
"Alright." Jackie already began to relay instructions. "The girls, Tohru, and I will work to take care of that drill before Phobos can use it. Uncle, take Jade, Caleb, and Alchemy to see the Mage and find out how we can stop these 'Trance-Marchers'."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Jackie's plan as Will had already taken out the Heart of Kandrakar.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Blunk was already making himself at home in the restaurant's dumpster, taking out the many 'treasures' he stole from Phobos' caste, particularly a certain golden horn he stole from the castle as well.
"Oooh yeah." Blunk admired his own reflection in the horn. "Pretty Passling. Why you not date more? Ow!" The Passling felt a smack on his forehead, curtsey of Uncle.
"Passling stop playing with garbage!" Uncle chastised as he, Caleb, Jade, and Alchemy were already present.
"Come on Blunk, mission time." Jade told him.
"Blunk rather boogie-down." The Passling blew into the horn to play a tune, but Caleb had pulled him away, and swiped the horn form him.
"Secret mission." Caleb told him. "No clown horns aloud." He threw the horn into the dumpster.
"Let's go. We gotta see this Mage-person." Alchemy tried to run down one direction, but quickly stopped and turned to the others with a nervous smile. "Uh… how do we get there?"
Jade snickered in amusement, while Uncle and Caleb both sighed and shook their heads as they walked forward to lead the way, with Blunk following them. However, none of them noticed a police officer, who appeared to be in the middle of writing a ticket, was in a trance-like state, now a Trance-Marcher from hearing the sound from the horn that Blunk just blew.
Meridian
While in Guardian form, Will carried Jackie, while Irma and Taranee both carried Tohru, as they, along with Hay Lin and Cornelia flew toward the massive drill that the Trans-Marcher rebels and Lurdens were working on.
"Down there." Will spotted the drill.
"But with the rebels under Cedric's control, we can't afford for you girls to use your powers recklessly without hurting them." Jackie said.
"So, we clear them out before we demolish it." Tohru told them.
"How do we do that?" Hay Lin asked.
"I've got an idea." Cornelia was the first to fly toward the ground before slamming her fists onto the ground, sending a tremor directly toward the drill to shake up the area and halt the construction process.
Many of the Trance-Marchers were knocked off the higher platform. But Irma used her power over water to create several water plums to break their fall. "Everybody into the pool!"
"Stop! Stop building!" Jackie tried to get to the Trace-Marchers on the ground that had already gotten up and resumed their work as if nothing happened. "Please stop!" Jackie tried to block their path, or literally shake them away, but the Trance-Marchers ignored him.
"I don't think it's working." Hay Lin said as she flew closer to Jackie. "Maybe whatever Cedric did to them, makes them do only what he tells them to."
"Then we'll simply have to carry them to a safe distance." Tohru already had his arms full of six Trance-Marchers and attempted to carry them away. Taranee also did the same as she pulled one girl into the air as well.
However, this drew the attention of Cedric who stood on the castle wall as he oversaw the construction. "Trace-Marchers, resist them!"
Immediately, the Trance-Marchers went on the attack. All the ones Tohru was carrying struggled in his grip and kicked and screamed, literally clawing at his face like wild animals, forcing him to drop them. Others picked up the construction tools they had been using and used them as make-shift weapons to attack the others; particularly Jackie as he couldn't fly to avoid them.
However, Jackie picked up a random plank and used it as a make-shift weapon to not only block the Trance-Marcher attacks, but even swipe them off their feet. "Sorry." He apologized before blocking and defending himself once more. "Sorry." He apologized over and over as he was forced to knock them down for his own defense. "Sorry. Sorry. I will make it up to you all later, thank you!"
It wasn't just Jackie in trouble, the girl Trance-Marcher she had been carrying had clawed at her and pulled on her hair, causing the bespectacled Guardian to crash toward the ground, directly underneath the massive spike.
"Release the spike!" Cedric ordered, intending on crushing not only Taranee but also the Trance-Marcher he was willing to sacrifice.
The spike was dropped and sent falling toward Taranee and the Trance-Marcher holding her down. However, Tohru was quick to run in and catch the spike, using nothing more than his own strength. Though he was able to hold it and prevent it from seriously injuring Taranee, it was rather heavy, and he couldn't hold it much longer, emphasis by his groaning and sweating.
"Hang on Big T! I gotcha!" Hay Lin flew in and sent a powerful bust of wind toward the spike to blow it away from Tohru, Taranee, and the resisting Trance-Marcher, whom Tohru quickly grabbed and pulled off Taranee before running away with her.
Jackie, Will, and Irma had also used the Trace-Marcher's resistant-command to their advantage lure them away from the drill. Once they were far enough away, Jackie called out to the one person who could finish the job.
"Cornelia! The people are safe and away! Destroy the drill!"
"On it!" Cornelia replied as she hovered above the drill. She spun her hands to control the ground underneath the drill, weakening it, and causing it to collapse and take the drill with it. Once it was done, Will and Irma quickly picked up Jackie and flew away from the pursuing Trance-Marchers.
They, along with Cornelia, would fly to meet up with Tohru and Taranee a bit further away as the later kept the struggling female Trance-Marcher in a tight bear-hug. "Hello? Anybody home?" Will waved her hand in front of the Trance-Marcher's face, but her only response was an animalistic-scream and a snarl.
"Can you use some kind of spell to undo this?" Irma asked Tohru.
"Without knowing the source of this, not even a full-fledged Chi-Wizard can break the trance, let alone a simple apprentice like myself." Tohru replied.
"Then let us hope Uncle and the others have learned more about this from the Mage." Jackie said. "We'll head back to Heatherfield and wait for them at the shop."
Tohru put the Trance-Marcher down, allowing Cornelia and Hay Lin to pick him up as they flew away with Irma, Taranee, and Will, who carried Jackie with her.
Phobos' Throne Room
Cedric and a random Lurden, who carried a certain chest, had bowed before Phobos who sat in his throne, with Daolon Wong standing on the right side of the throne, and Tarakudo himself floated on Phobos' left.
"So, it would seem Cedric's little Trance-Marcher scheme was faulty." Wong sneered. "Wouldn't you agree, my prince?" He asked Phobos directly, who seemed less than pleased to learn the drill was destroyed.
"It was only a temporary set-back, Prince Phobos." Cedric said, while casting a glare in Wong's direction. "Nothing that can't be fixed with a few more Trance-Marchers." He stood up, along with the Lurden carrying the chest. However, once Cedric opened it up, he discovered the box was empty.
"Hmm, you didn't tell me your horn could turn invisible." Tarakudo remarked in dry humor as he saw the empty chest.
Cedric however did not share the humor. "The Horn of Hypnos is gone?!" He exclaimed before he transformed into his massive serpent form and angrily crushed the chest in his hands. "The thief will rue his miscalculation!"
Phobos seemed less than pleased as well. "If the Horn of Hypnos falls into the hands of someone in the rebellion, or even with Chan and the Guardians, they could turn our entire army into Trance-Marchers and turn them against us!" He stood up from his throne. "Cedric! Daolon Wong! Find the Horn! Do whatever it takes!"
"Yes, my prince." They both said at the same time as Wong waved his scepter, causing him and Cedric to be engulfed in dark blue smoke before vanishing into thin air.
Phobos sighed as he sat back in his throne to rub the bridge between his eyes. "I swear… it always feels like we take one step forward and two steps back! Perhaps I should have destroyed the Horn of Hypnos once I found it and avoid such a mess all together."
"Still, I can see where something like that can be useful." Tarakudo commented. "To turn your enemies into allies is a good idea and can achieve excellent results if properly executed."
"When the enemy can easily do the same thing, it seems more like a liability than anything else." Phobos remarked.
"But what if said method can't be mimicked?" Tarakudo mused, getting Phobos attention. "What if there was a way to turn an enemy into an ally? A powerful one at that."
"What exactly are you getting at, Tarakudo?" Phobos asked.
"What if I were to tell you, I could turn a certain someone over to our side?" Tarakudo offered with a knowing smile. "Someone, who if turned, can strike our enemies where it hurts the most: their hearts."
Phobos had an intrigued smile on his face. "I'm listening."
Meanwhile, in the Infinite City; Uncle, Jade, Alchemy, Caleb, and Blunk stood before the Mage, who had just walked out of the waterfall to address them as they have just told her everything, they know about the rebels becoming Trance-Marchers.
"What you have described is the effect of the Horn of Hypnos." The Mage told them.
"She say… Horn?" Blunk asked nervously.
"When pointed at its victim, the Horn's tone creates a Trance-Marcher." The Mage explained.
"Uh… guys." Blunk tried to get their attention.
"Ssshh, quiet Blunk." Caleb told the Passling.
"Can a Trance-Marcher share sensitive information?" Uncle asked the Mage.
"No." The Mage replied. "When turned into a Trance-Marcher, the victim's mind becomes a blank. They are unable to share deep secrets with the one controlling them."
"Which means they won't tell Phobos and company about the Infinite City." Jade said, much to Caleb's relief.
"However, while they cannot reveal any secrets, they will obey whoever blows the Horn and do anything and everything they ask, even at the cost of their own lives." The Mage said. "In the wrong hands, it is a dangerous weapon."
"Can we reverse it?" Caleb asked.
The Mage's response was creating the image of a harp and playing a magical tone with it. "This melody breaks the spell, but you must find the Horn and destroy it."
"About Horn…" Blunk laughed nervously. "Funny story…" But it didn't seem anyone was paying attention.
"Hold on." Jade pulled out her phone and set it to record. "Can you play the sound again?" The Mage did so and played the melody once more, which Jade was able to successfully record. "Got it."
"Uncle can make protective chi-spell with this." Uncle said, ruffling his great-niece's hair. "Excellent work, Jade."
"Ah, shucks." Jade tried to act modest.
"So, how do we destroy this Horn-thing?" Alchemy asked. "Please don't tell me it can only be destroyed in a volcano or something like that."
"The Horn can be destroyed by any normal method." The Mage replied as Blunk tried to get their attention still.
"Blunk know something about horn!" However, Caleb held him back.
"What does it look like?" The young rebel asked. The Mage's reply was to create a magical projection of a familiar-looking horn that they all recognized. "Wait a minute…!"
"Caleb threw Horn in trash! Him! Him! Him!" Blunk pointed to the young rebel, whom Uncle was quick to dope-slap.
"Ow!" Caleb rubbed his forehead.
"Well actually this is good for us." Jade said, getting their attention. "We know where the Horn is, and Phobos doesn't have it. We just gotta get to Earth, smash it with a sledgehammer, and bing-bang-boom, we win!"
"Eh… yeah…" Alchemy winced. "Except today is… garbage day. They empty the dumpsters today."
"AIYA!" Uncle exclaimed.
Earth – Silver Dragon
Hay Lin was taking the trash to the dumpster, while everyone else had gone home, as per Jackie's request while he and Tohru waited at Uncle's shop for Caleb's group to return. "Oooh, I'm gonna be so grounded if I can't explain where I was this afternoon. Study group with Uncle Jackie?" Hay Lin muttered to herself as she threw the trash bag into the dumpster. However, as she did, she noticed the Horn of Hypnos inside.
She reached inside to pick the Horn out, not knowing what it was. "Weird… looks brand new." She gave a gasp of realization as she found a good excuse. "I was at my whatever-this-thing-is lesson! Cause… I'm joining the school band! That's good!" She blew the Horn herself to get a tune out of it.
However, her father happened to hear the tune inside the kitchen as he was cleaning the dishes, turning him into a Trance-Marcher just as Hay Lin peaked in. "Um Dad… sorry I was late today, but I really want to go to the dance Friday! Plus, I kinda wanna meet my friends tonight so…"
"As you wish." Her Trance-Marcher father said robotically.
"Really?!" Hay Lin asked excitedly, not noticing the blank look on his face. "Get out of here!"
"As you wish." He repeated, taking it literally as he walked out of the kitchen, with Hay Lin right behind him just as Principle Knickerbocker entered the restaurant.
"Good Evening Chen, table for one please." Knickerbocker requested.
"Hi Principle Knickerbocker!" Hay Lin told her before whispering to her unresponsive father. "Dad, wake up." She urged before addressing Knickerbocker herself. "Why don't you take the table by the window?"
However, the Trance-Marcher dad, literally did just that. "As you wish." He walked over to a random table and put it by the window.
"He's been under a lot of cooking stress." Hay Lin told her principle, even though she wasn't sure what was going on with him either. "Well, I'm outie! Oh, and I'd like to donate this to the school band." Hay Lin gave the Horn of Hypnos to her principle. "Bye Dad! Don't wait up for me!"
Of course, her Trance-Marcher father took it literally as he fell to the floor.
Uncle's Rare Finds
Jade played the recorded harmony on her phone again as Uncle and Tohru got to work on preparing the spell. "Uncle, can you really reverse the spell of this Horn of Hypnos?" Jackie asked.
"No, Uncle can only cast protective spell from Horn." Uncle stated. "To break spell already cast on Trance-Marchers, the horn must be destroyed." He said as he began to mix spell ingredients together in a small cauldron.
"And you said Blunk stole the Horn, but Caleb accidentally threw it out?" Tohru asked.
"Yeah." Jade confirmed. "Well… at least the bad guys don't have it, so… that's good, right?"
"It could still fall into someone's hands and put innocent people in danger if they don't know how to use it, Jade." Jackie said. "I already told Captain Black, and he is having Section 13 search all the city's dumps for this Horn."
"Caleb and Blunk choose to stay behind in Meridian, to alert rebels who have not become Trance-Marchers to remain in hiding till the spell is broken." Uncle informed as he and Tohru continued to work.
"We should have a spell prepared by tomorrow." Tohru said. "But we've never made a spell from a sound before."
"I will send a text to let the girls all know." Jackie pulled out his phone.
"Well then let's just hope we can get this done soon." Jade said. "Dance is tomorrow, and I don't want the Forces of Darkness to spoil the party."
Meridian – the next day
"Alright, so everyone is staying hiding until the Horn is destroyed." Caleb said as he and Blunk walked up the hill towards the portal. "Can't believe you actually stole it from under Phobos' nose."
"Blunk do good." The Passling said proudly. "Keep Horn away from bad guys."
"But you also threw it out." Caleb glared slightly. "And when we got back, the trash was already taken to the dump."
"Caleb throw Horn in trash! Not Blunk!" Blunk exclaimed.
The rebel rolled his eyes. "Well, at least they have Section 13 looking for the Horn."
"Well, what a coinkydink." Both looked up in surprise to see the Dark Chi Warrior, Finn, standing on top of a rock, looking down onto the pair. "We're looking for a horn too." He said as Ratso and Chow, in their respective Dark Chi Warrior forms, jumped and landed behind the pair. But it didn't stop with them; Cedric, Daolon Wong, and all the Trance-Marcher rebels appeared on the hilltop.
"Ah! Bad guys! Run!" Blunk screamed as he and Caleb turned around to run toward the portal.
"After them!" Cedric ordered as he, Wong, the Dark Chi Enforcers, and Trance-Marcher rebels gave pursuit. However, the small army were too late to stop Caleb and Blunk from reaching the portal and jumping into it. "Marchers, wait!" The shapeshifter stopped the Trance-Marchers from pursuing any further. "Daolon Wong, you and your warriors go scout the other side."
Wong snarled at the shapeshifter. "I do not see why when you were the one who lost the Horn of Hypnos!"
"You will go through the portal, or I will have the Trance-Marchers rip you and your warriors limb-from-limb!" Cedric hissed as he and Wong glared at each other.
However, the Enforcers were quick to break it up. "Okay, don't worry Big C. We got it covered." Finn said.
"Yeah, no need for any mutilating this week." Chow also said as they nervously pulled Wong away.
"We'll be right back." Ratso also said.
Earth - Heatherfield
The portal appeared to be in an abandoned warehouse in the middle of a dump as Wong and his Dark Chi Enforcers left the portal to see Caleb and Blunk already a considerable distance away.
"Hmmm." Wong observed the terrain of the dump. "They will come back to close the portal eventually." He turned to the Enforcers. "Go back and tell Cedric to bring the Trance-Marchers here. I have a plan."
Sheffield Institute
Martin, who was part of the school's marching band, blew the Horn of Hypnos, thinking it was a normal instrument, not noticing he just turned his bandmates into Trance-Marchers. "This thing's great!" He said excitedly as he looked at the Horn. "Just wish we could practice marching, too!"
The Trance-Marchers did as Martin 'ordered' and began to march off the football field. "Wait… uh… wait, wait, wait up!" He tried to catch up them, only for one Trance-Marcher to literally stop as Martin ran into him, slamming his face into the trombone in the process.
Uncle's Rare Finds
"My agents have scoured through all the city's landfills." Captain Black informed Jackie and Tohru as Uncle continued to work with the spell. "No sign of this Horn-thing."
"Then where can it be?" Jackie wondered as Caleb and Blunk suddenly ran inside.
"Cedric and Daolon Wong have all the Trance-Marcher rebels under their control." Caleb said as he and Blunk tried to catch their breaths. "Don't worry, they didn't follow us here. How's that spell coming?"
"Hold your horses! Magic cannot be rushed!" Uncle chastised as he poured an elixir into the cauldron.
"Making a spell based off a sound is a lot more difficult than it looks, but it should be ready within an hour or two." Tohru said.
"Caleb, is the portal still open?" Jackie asked.
"Yeah." Caleb nodded.
"Meaning Cedric and Wong will try to come through with their Trance-Marchers to look for the Horn of Hypnos themselves. Even if they have to tear apart the entire city to do it." Jackie said.
"Not on my watch." Captain Black stated.
"Hold on, they're my friends and comrades!" Caleb quickly said. "You can't hurt them!"
"I'm not planning on it." Captain Black replied. "They might be hypnotized, but all their bodies still function normally, right? That includes their heart and lungs?"
"Yeah… still have to breathe." Caleb confirmed. "Why?"
Captain Black gave a knowing smirk. "I've got an idea."
Sheffield Institute
Meanwhile; Will, Jade, Irma, Hay Lin, Taranee, Cornelia, and Alchemy all hung out at the main gate outside the building. "Big news!" Taranee announced to her friends. "I kinda, almost, nearly have a date."
"That's great!" Will replied, happy for her friend. "Who's the kinda, almost, nearly, lucky guy?"
Almost on que, the group heard a whistle in Taranee's direction, they turned around to see the guy in question, whom Will recognized as someone from Matt's band at the base who waved at Taranee before walking away. "Nigel finally figured out he likes me."
"Didn't he hang out with that Uriah guy?" Jade asked.
"Looks like he grew a brain and ditched those idiots." Alchemy replied.
"And with Caleb kinda, almost, nearly going out with Cornelia; it just leaves me, Irma, Alchemy, and Jade without dates." Hay Lin said.
"Eh, not interested." Jade shrugged.
"Why, cause your last boyfriend turned into a demon?" Cornelia asked.
"First, we never actually dated." Jade replied. "Second, he didn't 'turn into' a demon, he already was one, just disguised as a boy. And third, I'm just not interested in dating."
"Yeah, I'm not looking for anyone right now either." Alchemy also said.
"Plus, we all know Irma's gonna go out with Martin later on." Jade joked, Irma to grumble in annoyance.
"Shut it, Jade." Irma told her.
"You didn't say 'no'." Jade still joked, resulting in the other girls laughing.
However, the laughing came to an end as the Trance-Marcher marching band walked out from the school grounds, marching and playing their instruments really badly as they did.
"Hey look, the marching band is group-ditching school." Irma said.
"Um… are they okay…? They look kinda spaced out." Alchemy observed.
Will got a good look in their eyes. "Wait a minute… we've seen this before…" Her eyes suddenly widened in realization. "They're Trance-Marchers! It's spread to Heatherfield!"
Jade immediately took out her cellphone and made a call. "Uncle Jackie, we have a problem!"
It was late afternoon as Caleb and Blunk walked through the area where the portal was located. They appeared to walk aimlessly, that is until they came to the center of the junkyard when a massive shadow loomed over them. They looked toward the top of a pile garbage to see the massive form of Cedric, along with Daolon Wong and the Dark Chi Enforcers glaring down at them.
"The Horn of Hypnos, if you please? Cedric hissed as all the Trance-Marcher rebels appeared and completely surrounded the duo.
Blunk screamed and hid behind Caleb's leg, but Caleb himself didn't look all that intimidated. "Sorry, we don't have it." Caleb said casually before he smirked. "But you know what we do have? A trap! Now!"
Suddenly; the five girls of WITCH, clad in their full guardian forms, all shot out from their hidden spots in the Junkyard, along with Jackie and Tohru, and even Jade, who appeared to float in mid-air all by herself.
"Hey snake-boy!" Jade called to Cedric. "What happens when cross a rabbit, with a rooster, and an ox?" She questioned as she brandished the Rabbit, Roster, and even Ox Talismans in her hand. "Answer: one mean punch!" She flew directly at Cedric at high-speeds and decked a powerful slug across his face, which was enough to send the massive shapeshifter flying out of the junkyard and crashing hard on the street, though he seemed to recover quickly enough.
"Trance-Marchers! Attack!" Cedric ordered.
"Go my warriors! Destroy them all!" Wong ordered the Dark Chi Enforcers as the trio, along with the Trance-Marcher rebels all charged directly for the heroes in the middle, but they seemed prepared even for this as Jackie took out a walkie-talkie.
"Captain Black! Go!" Jackie stated.
Suddenly, several armored vehicles appeared from down the street as they surrounded the entire junkyard before they opened up and dozens of Section 13 agents in SWAT uniforms piled out, along with Captain Black, who had Alchemy right next to him.
"Fire canisters!" Captain Black ordered as all his agents had riot-guns and opened fire, shooting metallic canisters into the air and into the junkyard. Once they hit the ground, gas shot out of the canisters and began to fill the air around the Trans-Marcher rebels, causing them to cough and halt their advance.
Finn, Ratso, and Chow coughed as well and tried to cover their eyes. "Oh… that really stings…!" Ratso tried to rub his eyes.
"It's tear gas!" Finn exclaimed.
"Yes, it is!" Finn looked in surprise to see Jackie, who had a gas-mask on, run in and slam a fist across Finn's face to send him hurtling into a junk-pile as Caleb and Tohru ran alongside him, both had gas masks of their own to protect themselves; even Blunk, who rode on Caleb's shoulder, had his own gas mask.
Tohru quickly ran to grab Ratso and throw him hard at the downed Finn, causing them both to poof and vanish; while Caleb swung his katana onto the blinded Chow, poofing him as well. The trio then made their way past the disoriented Trans-Marchers, doing their best not to hurt them, though they had to push and knock them down to get out of the junkyard fast.
"Sorry Drake." Caleb apologized as he knocked his friend down.
Daolon Wong tried to fan away the gas near him as he stood at the tallest point in the junkyard. "Gas… hmmph." He didn't seem impressed. "I can remove that easily enough…!"
"Sorry, I don't think so!" Will flew down to grab Wong by the shoulders and pull him up into the air before throwing him toward Taranee who launched a volley of fireballs at Wong. Instinctively, the Dark Chi Wizard threw up a barrier of dark magic to shield himself, but the blast from Taranee's fire was enough to send him crashing right next to the recovering Cedric. Cornelia then flew toward them as she placed her hands on the ground and grew multiple thick plant vines from the ground around the two villains and entangled them.
"You set a trap of your own?!" Daolon Wong exclaimed.
"Duh." Jade smirked as she, Will, Cornelia, and Taranee hovered in the air with smirks.
Cedric hissed in anger. "This will only slow them down! Marchers, attack!"
"Sorry, but no." Will took out her walkie talkie and spoke into it. "Captain Black, go!"
"You heard her, men!" Captain Black nodded to his agents. "Fire the second capsules!"
After loading a new type of capsule into their riot guns, the Section 13 agents fired them into the junkyard as the tear-gas began to clear up. The second the canisters hit the ground, with all the Trance-Marcher rebels condensed in the middle, a different type of gas began to fill the air.
Seeing that as their signal, Hay Lin and Irma both flew into the air as Irma shot her hands forward to spread out a water wave around the junkyard, while also manipulating the water's shape to take the form of a dome that kept the gas and Trans-Marchers trapped inside before Hay Lin inhaled to blow a blast of cold air to freeze the dome solid. Jade the flew in with her three current Talismans and used her enhanced strength to punch a couple of holes in the top and let it air out.
By the time she regrouped with the WITCH girls in the air, the ice-dome had aired out from the gas as all the Trans-Marchers inside appeared to be knocked unconscious.
Despite being restraint along with Daolon Wong, Cedric was unwilling to give up. "Trans-Marchers, stand!" How veer, they didn't even respond and continued to lay unconscious. "I said stand!"
"Sorry, they can't hear you." Caleb said as he, Jackie, Tohru, and Blunk walked towards the restraint villains, having removed their gas masks. "Kinda hard to hear anyone when you're knocked out cold."
"Anesthetic gas." Jackie explained. "It induces a coma-like state, deeper than even sleep. Those rebels won't be waking up for a few hours at least."
"The Horn of Hypnos might affect a person's mind, but it doesn't control the rest of their bodies." Tohru stated with crossed arms.
In no time at all; not only had the Chan Clan, Guardians, and their friends regrouped, but all the Section 13 agents had surrounded the bound duo with different types of guns, the ones with laser-pointers as both Cedric and Wong had red lasers pointed all over their bodies.
"Those riot guns fire gas containers." Black said to the villains as he approached them with crossed arms. "These ones however shoot lethal ammunition, and the safeties are off. So, do you two wanna do this the easy way, or the hard way?"
Irma shivered with a smile. "Oooh, now that is how you sound like a badass."
Cedric hissed as he grinded his teeth so much, it almost looked like they were about to chip, and while Wong was almost as angry, he remained calm enough to cast a large plum of dark blue smoke from his scepter that engulfed both him and Cedric before vanishing.
"Guess they took the easy way. The easy way out, anyway." Alchemy commented as most of the heroes looked somewhat disappointed, save for Blunk who just admired his gas mask.
"Oooh, cool-looking mask." Blunk put it on. "How cool Blunk look?" However, nobody appeared to hear him.
"You're sure they're gonna be okay?" Caleb asked as he looked to his unconscious friends and comrades inside the ice-dome.
"Relax, this is the kind of stuff doctors use when performing surgery. They'll be fine." Captain Black assured.
"Yeah, but when they wake up, they'll be zombies again." Cornelia stated.
"Not if we smash that stupid horn." Jade said. "That Mage-lady said if we destroy the Horn of Hypnos, everyone will go back to normal."
While everyone had smiles at this news, Hay Lin winced with a dreadful realization. "Um… horn? Is it about this big…" She gestured the appearance with her hands. "and a goldy… shiny… like…?"
"Wait… Hay Lin you've seen it?!" Jackie questioned as everyone turned their eyes on her.
"Yeah… I've seen it…" Hay Lin nodded. "And I also… might have… given it to… Principle Knickerbocker…"
Will smacked her forehead. "That's why the marching band became Trance-Marchers!"
"You mean the band that was marching out of school… and into town…and they also probably had… the Horn with them…?" Taranee asked as it didn't take much for all the heroes to put two-and-two together to realize what that means.
"Bad day…" Jackie muttered.
Tohru suddenly felt a vibration in his pocket and took out his cellphone before answering it. "Hello? Sensei?"
"Tohru, I have devised protective chi-spell! Are Jackie and girls with you?" Uncle asked on the other side of the line.
"Right here, Sensei." Tohru answered as everyone looked toward the big sumo.
"Put them on phone." Uncle told him, prompting Tohru to put the phone on speaker.
"Uncle…?" Jackie asked. "We can all hear you."
Immediately, Uncle began to recite a familiar chant. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao." However, the way Uncle was chanting, it was in the same tone that the melody was in that the Mage told them. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao."
As Uncle chanted, a green chi-wave echoed through the phone's speakers, hitting each of the heroes as Jackie, Will, Jade, Irma, Tohru, Hay Lin, Cornelia, Taranee, Caleb, Alchemy, Blunk, and even Captain Black were all surrounded by a green aura before it vanished as Uncle finished chanting.
"Chi spell will protect you from Horn's power." Uncle explained over the phone. "Even if you hear Horn's sound, you will not become Trance-Marcher. But Horn must be destroyed to break spell permanently."
"Then we better find that blow-hard. Fast." Jade stated.
It was really late in Heatherfield, and people everywhere were just minding their own business when they either heard or saw the Trance-Marker Sheffield marching band marching and playing their instruments throughout the streets aimlessly through the city. However, once they heard the sound of the Horn of Hypnos being played by the oblivious Martin, they also became Trance-Marchers and joined the band. Within a matter of hours, it appeared that half the Heatherfield population had been zombified and marched aimlessly throughout the city.
However, one group of the Section 13 agents that Captain Black had sent out to find the Horn some time ago had spotted the growing army of Trance-Marchers. The reason they weren't zombified was due to the fact that they each had earplugs to avoid becoming Trance-Marchers themselves just in case the enemy forces found the Horn before they did.
One agent pulled out his communicator to inform his leader. "Captain Black sir, we have found the target."
"Copy, Good work." Captain Black got off his communicator to address the Chan Clan and WITCH girls. "Agents have spotted the marching band, as well as most of the town, all heading to Sheffield. ETA to the school in ten minutes."
"Of course, it's the marching band." Taranee said in realization. "They're following they're normal practice routine."
"But if it's more than half the Heatherfield population, Daolon Wong and Cedric will have little trouble finding the horn with so many Trance-Marchers heading to one location." Jackie said.
"Hang on, I think I have an idea." Caleb said. "I'll explain it on the way, we gotta get to the school."
As the group quickly made their way to the school's direction; they failed to notice Tarakudo appearing out of some graffiti on the wall of a nearby alleyway as he saw the heroes head off. "Hmm, looks like I might just have my chance."
As the massive herd of Trance-Marchers made their way closer to the school; Cedric and Daolon Wong had saw where the Horn of Hypnos was in the large group of people as Wong had erected a dark magic barrier to keep them from accidentally hearing the Horn's sound becoming Trance-Marchers themselves.
"Looks like we found our prize." Wong observed. "As well as an army of Trance-Marchers."
"Then let us seize both, and finally rid ourselves of those annoying pests." Cedric stated as he shifted back into his human form, while Wong waved his scepter, causing them both to vanish in a puff of dark smoke.
Then suddenly, the evil duo reappeared directly behind Martin. "Give us the horn!" Cedric told the boy.
"Uh, sorry sir, this is school property." Martin told them. "And unless you got a signed-notice…" He was interrupted by a blast of dark magic from Wong to knock him down, allowing Wong to take the Horn. "Hey! What's the big…?!'
Wong then blew into the Horn of Hypnos, aiming it directly at Martin to turn him into a Trance-Marcher.
"Excellent. Now Wong, if you would…" However, Daolon Wong turned the Horn of Hypnos on Cedric and blew into it, turning the shapeshifter into a Trance-Marcher as well.
"Hmmp, you were outwitted by a Passling of all things." The Dark Chi wizard told the zombified shapeshifter. "This belongs in more capable hands." An idea soon came to Wong's mind. "In fact, I'll use it on the Guardians, as well as Chan and his allies, before turning this entire city into an army of my own slaves. After which, I'll return to Meridian, with a few hundred thousand Trance-Marchers, to pull that foolish Phobos from his throne and take it for myself!" He proclaimed with an evil laugh.
Will, Irma, Hay Lin, Cornelia, Taranee, and Jade all flew through the skies; five of the girls in their Guardian forms, while Jade still had the three Talismans with her. She also carried Tohru, which was quite easy thanks to the Ox Talisman, as Will carried Jackie. It wasn't long before they arrived at the main gate of Sheffield, only to find the entire street, as well as front courtyard filled with Trance-Marchers; with Daolon Wong standing on the balcony with the Horn of Hypnos in his hands.
"Ah, young Guardians, and Chan." Wong greeted the heroes upon seeing them. "Welcome to my army. We're so thrilled to have you join us… literally!" The Dark Chi wizard blew into the Horn, the sound waves traveling through the air and hitting the group as they continued to hover in the air, however, nothing happened.
"Hey, you might wanna take that in, it sounds like it can use a tune-up." Irma joked.
"What?!" Wong exclaimed in shock. "But… how…?!" He soon growled as he had an idea how this could have happened. "Of course. That novice protected you with a Chi-Spell. No matter, if you will not be my slaves, you shall be the first casualties of war, by your own hometown! Marchers, kill them all!"
The Trance-Marchers all turned towards the group of hovering heroes. "Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill them all." The Trance-Marchers marched closer, but the heroes found themselves most surprised by the ape prance of Cedric has he transformed into his massive serpent form and glared with his dull eyes. "Kill them all." Cedric said robotically.
The group hovered higher into the air to avoid being grabbed by Cedric and the other Trance-Marchers. "Did Wong just zap his buddy Cedric?" Will asked in genuine surprise.
"Bad guy back-stabbing. It was bound to happen eventually." Jade wasn't all that surprised.
However, around the corner of the building, while Wong and the Trance-Marchers appeared focused on the Guardians, Jackie, Jade, and Tohru; they did not notice an invisible group of people consisting of Captain Black, Caleb, Alchemy, Blunk, and Uncle, all were out of sight thanks to the Snake Talisman.
"Looks all eyes on them." Captain Black noticed.
"And that spell thing worked." Alchemy said. "We heard the horn but were not zombies."
"Uncle's magic works every time." Uncle said proudly.
"Gloat later, we gotta break the spell and destroy the horn." Caleb said. "I know the melody; I just have to play it so everyone can hear it."
"No problem." Alchemy said. "Matt's band should be in the auditorium, and I can plug his guitar into the PA system in the office."
"Then leave the wizard and the Horn to the rest of us." Captain Black said, referring to himself, Uncle, and Blunk.
"Bad wizard not know what hit him." Blunk said.
"Well do not just stand there, get cracking!" Uncle stated. "Jackie, Jade, Tohru, and Guardians cannot hold Trance-Marchers forever!"
Alchemy and Caleb broke off from the group, allowing themselves to turn visible as she led him to the school's auditorium; while Uncle, Captain Black, and Blunk, who still remained invisible, worked their way inside the building toward the balcony.
Meanwhile; the girls of WITCH, along with Jade, while still carrying Tohru and Jackie,
hovered high enough into the air, so that they were out of reach of even Cedric, yet he, and many other Trance-Marchers attempted to climb the building to get closer to them.
"So how long do we have to keep this up?" Cornelia asked.
"If Caleb's plan works, hopefully not long." Jackie said.
"It's cool." Hay Lin said. "I mean, they can't keep climbing forever and we can go as high as we want."
"Hopefully not high enough that we have trouble breathing." Taranee commented.
Suddenly, Tohru felt a chill down his spine. "Oh no…"
"Tohru?" Jade asked.
"What's wrong, big guy?" Irma also asked.
"I… have the willies…" Tohru responded, which was enough for the girls and Jackie to look at each other with dread.
"But that… only happens when…." Cornelia stuttered.
"When a certain King makes his appearance!" The Lord of all Oni suddenly appeared in the air behind them.
"TARAKUDO!" They all screamed in fear as the King of the Shadowkhan unleashed a powerful psychic blast to knock all of them out of the sky, all save for Jade, whom he caught with his telekinetic power.
Hay Lin acted quickly as she blew a column of air toward the ground to knock many of the Trance-Marchers out of the way, while also cushioning the landing for her fellow Guardians, Jackie, and Tohru.
Hay Lin however noticed someone was missing and gasped once she saw where their missing friend was. "He's got Jade!"
Jackie was about to make his way toward the building and climb back up when two Trance-Marchers grabbed his legs and pulled him back down. In little time, all the hundreds of Trance-Marchers surrounded all of them. As the Guardians attempted to fly out to escape and rescue Jade, they were quickly pulled back down as they were grabbed by their legs. Even Tohru was pressed against the ground by the Trance-Marcher Cedric.
Jade, meanwhile, struggled in the invisible grip of Tarakudo. "Let me go you floating head freak!"
"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" Tarakudo mused. "Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit." He began to concentrate his powers on her, specifically at one point on her body, on her back-left shoulder. Underneath her clothes, a familiar mark had soon carved itself magically onto her skin, causing her to grunt in pain. "Well, it might hurt a little bit." Tarakudo commented.
Despite being surrounded and almost literally torn apart by the Trance-Marchers, Will was able to pull herself free as she flew up into the air, straight towards the hovering enemy. "Let her go!" Will shouted as she drew a certain vegetable and threw it right at Tarakudo's face.
The second the onion made contact with Tarakudo's face, he felt a burning sensation in his eyes as he began to shed tears of green energy. "Ugh! My Eyes! My Eyes!" Tarakudo exclaimed in pain as he flew away, forcing him to drop the weakened Jade, whom Will was quick to catch.
"Jade! Are you okay?!" She asked urgently as the younger girl's eyes opened somewhat weakly.
"Yeah… didn't hurt a bit… thanks." Jade gave a smile.
"When fighting an Oni, never leave home without an onion." Will smiled.
"Great, hopefully they'll keep all the zombies back." Jade got back to their current situation. Fortunately, she still had her three Talismans as they flew back down to help their friends push back against the Trance-Marchers.
Caleb and Alchemy quickly ran into the school auditorium, which was completely vacant, save for Matt and his band. However, once they saw the two enter, they thought the party was about to start back up again.
"Right on! It's starting to pick up!" Matt said as Caleb hopped up on the stage. "Got a request, bro?"
"Yeah, give your instrument!" Caleb said as he took the guitar from Matt's hands, much to his surprise.
"Sorry! We'll give it right back! Promise!" Alchemy said as she and Caleb ran out of the auditorium, much to the band's confusion.
Back down below, Daolon Wong watched with absolute joy as he saw Jackie, Tohru, Jade, and the Guardians struggling against his Trance-Marcher army. "How does it feel, fools?!" Wong called to them. "To be literally torn apart by your own community?!"
"Come down here yourself and we'll show you!" Cornelia challenged, only to get pulled back down by the Trance-Marchers.
The group of heroes found themselves literally cornered against the wall as the Trance-Marcher Cedric loomed over them at the front of the army. "Finish them!" Daolon Wong ordered.
"Good evening Heatherfield!" Alchemy's voice ran through the school's PA system outside, much to the surprise of Wong, and the relief of the heroes as they knew what it meant.
"Are you ready to rock?!" Alchemy shouted into the PA system as if she was about to start a concert. "Let's rock, baby! Hit it!" She pointed to Caleb, who already had the electric guitar plugged into the system.
Caleb immediately strung the guitar and played the melody the Mage had told him, which also had been recorded Jade and recited by Uncle multiple times, so much so he memorized it with little effort.
Outside, the guitar's melody rang throughout the speakers, allowing it to reach all the Trance-Marchers, and stopping their attack. Using this opportunity, Tohru quickly grabbed the massive Cedric by his tail and threw him into a nearby alleyway. Best people didn't see a giant humanoid snake after waking up from their trance, which they all did four seconds later.
Will, Irma, Hay Lin, Taranee, and Cornelia had also turned back to normal for the same sort of reason as they all shared relieved smiles with Jackie, Jade, and Tohru.
Daolon Wong however was less than happy as he saw him loose control of his army. "I will destroy them!" However, he felt something missing from his hand and looked to see the Horn had vanished. "What?! Where is…?!"
"Yoo-hoo!" He turned around to see Blunk, having just turned visible, standing on the balcony's railing. Blunk laughed as he held the Horn of Hypnos in his hands before throwing it into the air; allowing Captain Black, now also visible, having arrived on the scene with Uncle by his side, brandish the Dragon Talisman and blast a stream of fire at the airborne Horn of Hypnos, destroying it with one hit.
"NO!" Wong exclaimed, but was later blasted off the balcony by a chi-blast from Uncle's blowfish. The Chi-Wizard blew some smoke from his fish cowboy-style before he shared a fist-bump from both Captain Black and even Blunk.
The spell having worn off, all the people awoke from their trances and cheered at the music that played through the PA system as if they were all at a rock concert. All except for Principle Knickerbocker who was stuck on the building she attempted to climb earlier as a Trance-Marcher.
"How… How did I get up here?!" She questioned in surprise as Jackie and Tohru helped her down.
"Er… a lot of people got carried away with the school dance fever." Taranee quickly made up an excuse.
"Yeah… kinda like at rock concerts." Jade also added. "You just gotta go with the flow."
Knickerbocker seemed to buy it. "So, I must be having fun? Oh, good. Everyone back to the dance."
With the crisis adverted, everyone gave a sigh of relief. "Excellent work, girls. You all did well." Jackie told them all.
"Thanks Uncle Jackie." Hay Lin smiled.
"So…" Will looked at her partially torn clothes. "First date… how do I look?"
"Like a badass." Jade complemented.
"Yeah, a total end-of-the-world survivor style." Irma also complemented as the other girls laughed while Jackie and Tohru simply smiled.
Meanwhile; Cedric had just awoken from his own trance in the alleyway as he saw all the people celebrating outside on the street. He snarled upon remembering what had happened. "Daolon Wong… that wretched wizard…! I shall…" However, Cedric's ranting was cut short as an invisible telekinetic force pulled him high into the air and away from the school.
A similar force had grabbed onto Daolon Wong, who had just recovered from his fall into the school's courtyard, and he was pulled into the air as well. Thankfully, nobody noticed.
Both Cedric and Daolon Wong crashed through the already broken ceiling of the warehouse, just in front of the still-open portal, where Tarakudo had been waiting for them. However, neither appeared to notice the Oni King as the Shapeshifter turned his rage toward the Dark Chi wizard.
"Wong!" Cedric siezed him by the throat and pinned him against the wall. "You dare turn the Horn of Hypnos against me?!"
"It was your incompetence that led to it being stolen in the first place!" Wong exclaimed.
"Yet you just lost it now!" Cedric shouted. "I should snap your neck like a twig!"
Wong however aimed his scepter, already surging with dark magic at his face. "Try it… and I shall curse you in ways you cannot imagine…!"
"Enough!" Tarakudo exclaimed before using his telekinetic powers to blast them both to the wall. "You are both at fault here! But it is not my place to punish you. That privilege belongs to Phobos. I'm sure he'll be very happy to learn how much you two have been back-stabbing each other." Tarakudo picked them both up with his powers and literally threw them into the portal before flying in himself.
Sheffield
All the students had arrived at the dance, which was now in full-swing as Matt's band played song-after-song. A disco-ball shined multiple lights all over the auditorium as everyone appeared to have a good time. Nigel played on base-guitar next to Matt as he spotted Taranee and gave her a wink, causing her to smile and blush.
Cornelia danced alongside Caleb as well, though she found his dance-style to be less than appealing. "Don't you dance in Meridian?"
"What do you call this?" Caleb said as he tried to dance to a different style, which appeared even less appealing than before, causing her to slap her hand against her forehead.
Irma also appeared to be dancing, albeit comically against her will by Martin. "Shake it, don't break it, mama!" Martin exclaimed as he tried to twirl with Irma.
"Martin, buh-bye." Irma let go, causing Martin to spin out of control before he crashed at the table that Hay Lin, Jade, and Alchemy hung out at; resulting in the three girls laughing.
"Don't worry champ, I'm sure you'll wear her down eventually." Jade joked.
"Yo, any sign of your girlfriend?" Nigel asked Matt as he looked around as well, while still playing, and couldn't find any sing of the girl in question.
After all the freed rebels had recovered from the hypnosis and anesthetic gas, they all returned to Meridian through the portal. Once the last of them walked through, Will stood alongside Jackie, Tohru, Uncle, and Captain Black as she used the Heart of Kandrakar to seal the portal in the warehouse.
"Well, that's one less portal to worry about." She said.
"Then go on and enjoy yourself at the dance, Will. You've earned it." Jackie told her with a smile and a pat on the back.
"Thanks Jackie." She smiled as she ran out of the building.
"You know, I'd say you earned a break too, old friend." Captain Black told Jackie with a smile. "Come on, let me treat you all to a drink."
"Oh, thank you Augustus, but you know I don't drink alcohol." Jackie said.
"Don't worry, they have soda too." Captain Black assured.
"This place wouldn't happen to have sake, would it?" Tohru asked with a hopeful smile, causing Captain Black and Jackie to chuckle.
"Place better have tea. Uncle does not drink alcohol either." Uncle stated as the group of men left the building as well.
Back at the auditorium, Will had just arrived and made it through the crowd when she spotted Matt. He saw her as well and smiled upon her arrival. As she walked toward the stage, Matt offered her a hand, which she accepted as he helped her up onto the stage before playing the next song. As Matt and his band played, he and Will both danced to the rhythm, and would be dancing all night long.
Meridian – Phobos' Throne Room
Both Wong and Cedric yelled in pain as they were blasted with Phobos' magic power before sent skidding across the floor. "Why is it impossible for you two to work together?!" Phobos exclaimed as Tarakudo hovered on his right side. "Your refusal to cooperate is one thing… but to sabotage each other is something else altogether!"
"My Prince, Wong had turned the Horn of Hypnos on me!" Cedric exclaimed. "He would have directed thousands of Trance-Marchers, including Chan and the Guardians, against you!"
"You have no proof I would betray the prince!" Wong argued. "I only used the Horn on you because your incompetence has allowed our enemies to outwit us on numerous occasions!"
"SILENCE!" Phobos shouted as he blasted them both once more. When his attack was done; both the Shapeshifter and Dark Chi Wizard laid on the ground, smoke coming from both their bodies. "What allows our enemies to succeed, is their ability to take advantage of our divided nature! You two are so busy fighting with each other, you don't have time to deal with the real threat! I do not care what sort of animosities lay between either of you, you will find a way to cooperate, otherwise I'll cast you both into the Abyss of Shadows! Do I make myself clear?!"
"Yes… my prince…" Cedric hissed reluctantly.
"Crystal clear…" Even Wong bowed. 'For now.' He thought as he hid his impulse to strike back at Phobos, but he knew that he could not defeat the Prince in a fight, at least not how he was now.
"Get out of my sight." Phobos ordered, allowing Wong and Cedric to pick themselves up and leave the throne room. The dark prince gave an exhausted sigh as he sat back down in his throne.
"My, that was quite the performance Phobos." Tarakudo congratulated with a smile. "I almost believed you myself."
Phobos revealed his own evil smile. "While I did put on a performance, I meant what I said. They're constant arguing grades on my patience. I may just throw those two into the Abyss for some peace and quiet, alone." Tarakudo chuckled at that before Phobos spoke to him. "So, our true objective, was it completed?"
"Yes. No one, not even the Guardians and Mr. Chan are aware of it." Tarakudo confirmed.
"Good." Phobos smiled, yet still maintained a serious demeanor. "But losing the Horn of Hypnos could still be somewhat problematic, given how rare they are. So, I am hoping that this girl is every bit as dark as you make her out to be. She certainly didn't give that impression when I first met her. Impulsive, yes; but not quite dark."
"Oh, trust me, my young friend. She has proven her worth before… and just as she was back then, she'll make a fine queen." Tarakudo commented with an evil chuckle.
Heatherfield – Chan Clan Residence
Jade Chan slept deeply in her room, having exhausted herself at the dance. However, as she slept, she remained unaware of the Symbol of the Shadowkhan that had been placed on her back-left shoulder, or the dark influence that was slowly corrupting her from the inside as the Symbol itself glowed ominously.
Done.
Hope you guys like that surprise twist ending. I'm sure we all know what this means for Jade, as a certain Queen might make her reappearance. Up next is a pair of original chapters that I have been wanting to write ever since I've started this fic. I'm really excited to get them started as I've got quite a few surprises in store.
(PS, I'm aware of the whole thing in the cannon story on how the Horn of Hypnos can never truly be destroyed, just 'erased' temporarily before reappearing. Which, in all honesty, is kinda stupid. I get that the Horn is powerful, but it's not a Mystic Heart or anything like that. So I'm just changing it up slightly to the fact there are multiple Horns of Hypnos, they're just incredibly rare and hard to come by).
Anyways, I hope you like what I did with this chapter, and I hope you enjoy the future chapters I have planned for this story. Thank you all for your support and I look forward to posting the next chapter. Until then, stay safe and stay healthy out there. Peace out.