Nervously walking across the stage. The important case clenched in sweaty hands that hung onto it as if it was a life preserver. This chapter of the weekly fanfiction story known as The Electric Len's has literally crossed the country in order to be uploaded to everybody's favorite fictional website. Once again, I would like to take this time to apologize… you know what we're gonna skip that this week because. I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!

Despite my best efforts to fail, and the last two quarters of my academic career being a little touch and go with weather I would gain enough credits to get my diploma on time with the rest of my year. I managed to complete my workload and get my bachelor's degree… which means it's now time to go on the hunt for a job, which I am less enthusiastic about. All that being said, Beta reader job still open here though XD

Now onto the reviews and the story.

Joecolla double 'O' deity: Amr honestly is a blast to write. When making the character I originally was trying far too hard to make him unique and not simply a younger version of Ruby. However, I realized that he could definitely still have some of her personality characteristic. In the end, his character, in my mind, is based on who Ruby could have been. If the monsters she wanted to face were only imaginary and did not in fact take her mother away.

Also, I can confirm that after the first three fourths of this chapter, things will start to speed up. And by that, I mean it's gonna be a bit none stop from the last part of this chapter, with a brief road bump in the next, until the end of the first book!

Alright, with all that accounted for, it is my pleasure and honor to present the next installment of The Electric Lens

Text Key

"Speech"

'Quote'

Thought

"Flashback", scene

"Electronic Speech"

Electronic Text's

"Langue that isn't understood by POV Character"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 18

A stream of light caused the youngest Aelle's nose to scrunch. However, the action did little to prevent the artificial rays of the, what his mother dubbed 'personal', sun from irritating his hidden cornea.

Go back to the sleep window, the blonde adolescent child's first conscious thought voiced… before his eyes uplifted their last form of defense and shot open.

Not even knowing when he went to bed, Amr's silver irises contained all the energy he had built up the night before. In fact, if one were to walk in at this very moment, they'd question whether or not the child had even gone to sleep at all. Instant rejuvenation being wasted on the youth, the boy leapt from his bed without the rust of grogginess.

Today's the day, having remembered the entity of his mother's promise, and the news it had been ushered in by. The pajama-clad night didn't even bother with clothes as he ran towards his door, I get to meet Sir Gareth, I get to meet Sir Gareth!

With the way his mind raced, it was as if the younger sibling had been waiting a lifetime for this day to come rather than just finding out about it not even half a day ago. Having gotten accustomed to the fact his door operated like the, in his words, 'super special magic ones' at supermarkets and stores in town, the hyperactive nine-year-old didn't even have to bother with a handle. As his frameless barrier opened just before he ran into a wall.

Darting through the labyrinth like a mouse in a maze, Amr used his socks to purposely slide into sharp turns. His sudden stop in momentum was all part of a game, as he would re-pick up speed just to go through the joys of inertia again and again.

I wonder if he's got armor on, another sharp turn and the boy passed his parents' bedroom. Not wanting this to be a Christmas situation, where he would simply find them asleep and after pouncing on their mattress unprovoked, he made, what he thought was, the tactical choice on trusting they were already up. A move he subconsciously knew was most likely false but didn't want to risk having to be told to go back to bed and wait three torturous hours for his present… or in this case siblings.

Mom also said he was tall… which means we can have cookies for breakfast, his brain waves already shooting off way ahead of him. Amr knew he had only a few more wooden streets until he entered the kitchen, and thoughts of getting a teenager to reach up and bring down sweets for a special breakfast made his feet accelerated to an even faster pace, I can show him all of dad's hiding spo-

"I mean… I'm glad he didn't run away", echoing down the hall, Amr almost felt the need to stop as woman's voice emerged from the kitchen area, "but he actually spent the night in the car?"

Two forms of tiredness came from the voice's source, but the silver eyed boy only knew of one. Based off tone alone, the person in the kitchen wasn't his mother's… but given the grogginess they carried it could be that she was just tired. After all, if his holiday escapades were anything to go by, his parents may as well be completely different people first thing in the morning,

"That is correct, and while I'm relieved I don't have to search any of the perimeter cameras", the digital voice acting from a speaker was much more recognizable, as his smile at the knowledge a lost knight was here, almost faltered when, with reddening cheeks, he realized Sir Nimue was here too, "Please let your son know my car is not a hookup area for teenagers"

Not knowing why, he immediately began to dust his pajama's off, not wanting to make a bad impression. His spine straightened, he even tried to force a sudden growth spurt, as he always felt the need to perform such weird actions whenever she came to visit. However, it would appear his body would get another chance to grow before seeing her again, as the electronic voice cut off.

"Wait", the still-aligned voiced individual in the kitchen called after the blonde agent, as if she could somehow turn the connections they had back on, "Gareth's in there with Velvet!"

Misinterpreting two things, Amr began running again at the sudden mention of the lost knight's name. Rounding the last corner, the mere pronoun had caused his sudden return from nervousness to joy to deafen his logic. As such, he forgot how his mom had informed him Gareth had a different one, or that the now shocked woman's voice now spoke with surprised clarity, and was definitely not caring his mother's small, but unique, accent,

"Race you to the car mom!", shooting into the kitchen, the boy accelerated through the room in a matter of seconds. Not even paying attention that his mom had grown her hair out overnight… and dyed it brown. The son could only process that the woman, who he thought was his parent, gave out a yelp as she launched herself up from the counter, "and no cheating with your adult powers, I'm going to get to Sir Gareth first!"

Not used to getting the drop on his mom when she was awake, the silver eyed boy giggled as he refocused his pupils forward. Hearing no playful retort, Amr nearly felt the urge to slow down, and hoped he didn't scare his mom too badly, however, he also knew she was one to play tricks and kept going.

Eventually hearing footsteps begin moving after him, and words that fell on distracted ears, Amr beamed with pride as he knew he made the right choice. And seemingly adhering to his demand, the eldest Rose's footsteps were far behind, and filled with hesitation rather than appearing right behind her thanks to her 'mom abilities'.

Having to come to an abrupt stop, Amr arrived before the front door. Holding back a stream of giggles, his hands went over the electronic locks. Treating life as a game, he nervously looked back as he pugged in the final numbers of the code. Hearing the mechanical gears begin to unlock themselves.

Hopping from one foot to the next, the silver eyed child squeezed himself through the barriers crack the moment it was large enough. Too single minded to even care about the cold air piercing his moonlit fabric night clothes, the boy only seemed to have eyes for the sole vehicle in the driveway. Not being his dad's car, Amr could only look upon the black SUV, as if it was a midnight hued stallion.

Wasting no time, the boy immediately shot off towards the car. Hearing somebody's footsteps finally reach the still opening door, Amr didn't waste time trying to look through light killing tinted mirrors. Feeling as if he was truly in a race against time, the child grasped the driver side handle.

Expecting one last trick from his now…adult word using advisory, Amr was pleasantly surprised to swing open the car door with relative ease. It took a grunt, and the recruitment of another hand to fully put enough weight to reveal the inside to the world, but the important thing is it wasn't locked. And that, not having the 'special ability' of a kid, the parent behind the entrance was still waiting for their own pathway to open.

Clambering inside, and then even locking the door, Amr suddenly found himself in a new environment. Instinctually placing his hands on the wheel, with his feet now levitating several inches above the petals, the silver eyed child looked around the front.

His vision revealed nothing, his speeding brain briefly thought his mom was playing a poorly placed fib on him. However, where sight failed, hearing did not. Two soft breaths coming from the back, the shifting blonde hair boy all of a sudden adopted a joyous grin. While he in no way liked his parent's reaction to being abruptly woken up… he could hardly predict how his brother would fare.

Moving before the back-seat picture could be revealed to his pupils, Amr brought up his legs slowly. Bending them down into the leather cushion, the boy briefly went from knight to tiger, as he, giggling, got ready to pounce,

I'll show him my skill, the boy thought, wanting to prove he was worthy of all the stories he be telling Gareth in the upcoming minutes, and then we can go fight Mordred together!

Nodding to himself, and so obsessed with his own jubilance he didn't hear the click of the car handle being pulled multiple times, Amr turned around and jumped. As all children do, the boy wanted the scene to go by fast, feel the rush of his own prank, and grandiose of his entrance be reacted to just as quickly as it was presented. Unfournanlty, as the light of the car had a much easier time coming in then going out, all the silver eyed knight could be gifted with was time slowly down.

Midair, the now avian predator was just above the front seats divide when he first caught a glimpse of his brother. Almost fittingly, the tales and future adventures at paladin in shining armor went out the window as the child first thoughts upon seeing a younger version of his dad was,

He is tall, it wasn't said with excitement, nor disappointment, but just with the pure energy of curiosity that now carried him into the gap between seats.

Silver eyes picking up difference, the next thoughts revolve around why his hair was the color of a tree trunk rather than gold like his own. However, this thought quickly morphed as it followed the trail of wood to another set of hair.

His mind even outpacing his ability to blink at the moment, Amr was astonished with how peaceful the sleeping being looked...and that it was a girl.

.is she an actual princess, his mental processing betraying him, the twinned home child would never admit to not being a knight, but he knew the difference between reality and stories, and truly questioned if this girl, with her soft features, and blemish free face was truly royalty.

Unfortunately, as he now entered the orbit of two people, and could almost feel the static electricity of their hairbrush against his own, his eyes followed her waterfall like locks upward… to a chocolate pair of bunny ears. His divide between fiction and reality having just been questioned, he collided into a crisis of faith when his body struck the arm of his brother and the still unidentified girl.

...people don't have ears like that...bunny's do, his emotions having taken flight second, the boy's curiosity began turning to confusion… and given the slow widening of his eyes, and the sudden sharpness of his breath, that was a much more easier state of mind to switch to fear, to turn a bunny into a person would have to be done by magic….by a witch

With his empathy, or accidentally lack thereof, picking side, the boy's mind came to its own false conclusion. And just as his own moon like orbs widen in horror, the shockwave finally affected the other two occupants of the car. With the animalistic eared girls' eyes shooting opening reflectively, Amr opened his mouth,

"MORGAN", he had always felt safe from that one element of the story, but now as the knight responsible for keeping it at bay had returned, he was convinced she did as well.

Stumbling backward, with his hands sinking into bone-covered flesh, Amr made for the side door, but found the path far more hazardous and uneven than his panicked flight responses hoped.

"W-what's going on?", the woman spoke in a stuttering, and shocked filled voice, but all the now fleeing boy could pick up on was that he couldn't understand a word of what she just said… a language somebody who was casting a spell would only not.

Scrambling on a surface that wouldn't allow him to move, the boy kept screaming, and as he finally looked up he saw his older doppelgangers own iris shine to the world...although the precious metal that inaugurated his was replaced by jewels,

"...Woah, okay not getting used to that", the male sounding voice was directed at first to itself, and did not possess the tiredness of somebody just waking up… however as it moved to direct itself towards the sorceress, Amr faced paled as he realized Gareth sung the same too, "Are you okay Velvet, what's up with your ears?"

"I-I don't know, I just heard screaming and they folde-", as the silver eyes child thoughts went to more names, and more villainous character, he looked up to see a brown set of eyes latch onto his,

"Is something wrong-", an emerald sea of irises followed suit, and in his adrenaline-fueled state, Amr could see them freeze up with true shock. However, such an emotion could not be questioned or observed, as he felt a tingling wave traverse his arm, and as flashes of lights now filled his outer vision… he saw through a third pair of pastel green eyes...as a ghostly form of a girl revealed itself to the world with arching waves of electricity,

Overcome by an overload of sensation, which was shared by at least the three mysterious, and now unwanted people before him, they all looked between each other unsure of what to do… or even if this was all happening. However, as the three corporeal beings had their tongues pinned by feline claws… the ghost seemed to notice Amr's gaze longer and be drawn to her,

"Salutations, you must be Amr Aelle", her voice crackling, the named child didn't even comprehend the friendly tone she carried, "Please do not be alarm, we are by no means hostile presence"

Blinking Amr's eyes felt like the Sahara Desert, and the with the girl suddenly frowning he felt tears begin to form rivers down his cheeks,

"I am sorry for any displeasure you may be feeling", the more English she spoke, the more Amr wished she just spoke in spells like the other two. Although, given his inability to process the words spoken, she may as well have been, "In fact...I am your sisters best friend, and your brother and I share such a bond we are now even speaking throughout the night as we sleep together"

"...wait...what", the legendary witch suddenly switching to English, and adopting a flustered but slightly ill will tone, the rabbit had electricity running down her own arm where she had grasped Gareth's shoulder,

"...Is this a cause for concern Velvet, I would invite you hiccup but I believe Gareth's semblance only works on electronics", despite the innocence of the tone, it sounded like it was hiding a form of...smugness that not only did not belong, but could not be hidden very well upon its first infield deployment.

"N-no of course it's not… but… I mean you shouldn't be keeping him up, he may have his aura but e-everybody needs sleep eventually", only noticing the communication through all the electricity connecting everybody, Amr's felt his water flow pick up...as his southern dam was now also threatening to burst.

"As you can see, Gareth is far better rested than even you. Such an ability should be looked at with jubilance. It means we can make far more efficient use of his time", turning her...entire astral body towards the now named knight. Amr's gaze fearfully followed, as he now saw the older boy looked toward him with a… unreadable and unwanted expression, as his arms remained clamped onto the seat, but seemingly shaking with either fear, anger, or both, "... Gareth?"

"P-please open the car Penny", hearing his own terror through the vocal cords of an older body, Amr would have been confused. However, as the electricity, not even having time to nod, merged its ways into the car, the boy was far more off put with the fact the car seemingly blinked.

It's lights flashing on and off, the boy's eyes were belched by an overload of light. However, as he blinked away the new covering, he was presented to a far more natural dose. The door opened, at a far too slow rate, the boy darted for the crack. Seeing the figure shadowing the son, he recalled his mom, who he now desperately needed to have a sir before her name, having given him chase.

Launching for the figure, the boy shut his eyes, not wanting to be betrayed like he was during his last leap of faith. Crashing into the person's center mass, he let out a cry, as the person, stumbling a few steps back, barely reacted in enough time to catch him in her arms.

Squeezing his head into the, 'cry shoulder', the now running silver eyed child didn't question why his mom seemed so surprised, or why he grunt when catching him was different. Too scared to even process the world, he just began letting out his fear through sobs and humid words,

"I can't slay the monster mommy", he hated using the word that made him feel more childish than people already saw him, but given his intangible wraps he was far past the point of caring, "I-I don't want to be here...I d-don't want to face Mordred and Morgan"

All his terrified mind could voice out, the boy's terror grew worse as the reassuring arm that was always so quick to wrap and shield itself around him came a moment too late. However, the mere fact it came at all, as he felt the soothing sensation of comforting pats, made him feel safe enough to just cry.

Burying himself deeper, and letting his defenseless be his fortress, Amr cut himself off from the world… which was good. For while the protector's words came out motherly and demanding of an explanation… it was not that of his fellow cookie crusader

"Gareth, what did you do?"

The last thing on the closed silver eyed boy's mind was how Gareth...Mordred… or whoever the seemingly ley Fey connected knight called himself would reply. But, even if the statutes and pure uncertainty of how his supposed brother was actually responding was being muffled by his tears… even Amr had to pause momentarily as what appeared to be something breaking the sound barrior rushed from the open door into the driveway...although, to his fearful credit, the chaos of it all made his crying quickly resume.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Even with Penny still floating before him, Gareth was having trouble deciding if he was the actual computer or not. His main source of anxiety, fear, hate, and just about every other negative and distasteful emotion had broken him out of a rather pleasant talk with his now electronically projected friend.

Not even having time to be shocked, he had heard Penny and Velvet display a level of passive aggressiveness he didn't know either could achieve. Followed immediately by… Arthur's son screams of 'Morgana' or something at the top of his lungs, only to launch himself out of the car into his own mother's arm. Crying to the world about ghosts and fairy tales being real.

From there things only seemed to accelerate. For, before Laura could even question Gareth for what he'd done to cause the situation he woke up to, an actual spirit shot out with a halberd raised in the air. Looking panicked and ready to murder everybody, her face went immediately into one of guilt and jealously when she saw her own son looked to her panicked and scared. And after saying something along the lines of 'I don't want to play anymore mom', he resumed his tear fest with even more enthusiasm.

By the time Arthur made his way outside, tired and leaning against the door frame, he could only witness people sputtering off confused explanations, tears, or apologies… or in Gareth's case complete silence. However, in a comedic twist of fate, the moment he gained enough energy to take a step outside, Laura regained control of the situation.

Taking on a maternal voice her emerald eyed son hadn't heard since he was a toddler crying in his mother's arm, she shot her one free hand towards the door. Told everybody to get inside the kitchen now, and despite not even being her own child or house, instantly decreed herself in charge without question.

So, even despite his promise never to be under the same roof as Arthur again, Gareth now found himself in the cooking area of the strangest estate he'd ever entered. With a somehow glitching bay window, and four different labyrinths existing and entrances, the youngest Cadarn stood next to and below a silent Velvet and Penny. Across from him was a barely awake blue-eyed man, who looked as if he would pass out at any moment if it wasn't for a circus performance being his alarm clock. Standing next to him, his Silver eyed wife stood fiddling with her hands, having gently placed her weird pole axes by the door, but desperately wanting to have it in her hands now.

However, as her moonlit eyes kept darting to her just sputtering down child, it was clear why she had disarmed herself. What wasn't clear to Gareth, however, was why the kid refused to be carried by his actual mother. And thus, looking around the room while still patting the golden hair boys back for comfort, Laura eyed everybody ready to demand some answers… and just as the last sniff echoed across the room, she got her signal to begin,

"Alright, so does anybody want to explain what's going on?", her voice came out reserved, only held back by the caring tone she had to inject it with for the one physical child's benefit.

"I-I woke up to screaming"

"Velvet had seemingly upset Amr"

"Nimue said there was activity outside"

"With any luck, I'm still dreaming"

"..."

Remaining silent, all Gareth could do was hope his electronic friend could offer up a better explanation then himself. However, as the house flickered on and off, her voice was caught up within the current of three others, which only seemed to cause Amr's fear to return before he dug his head back into Laura's shoulder.

"It's alright, it's alright", a weird form of...jealousy arose in the mother's actual son, but as he tried to subtly look away from the scene, he found the irises of another phantom experiencing similar emotions. Both deciding the spot was taken, Gareth instead just opted to look at his own shoes, "Why don't you tell me what happened, does that sound good"

Briefly looking around the room, and only missing out on Penny's mouth suddenly closing shut, Amr's eyes lingered on Velvet's ears for a bit too long, but ultimately ended up nodding. Seemingly put at ease by this gesture, the twin planet son eventually nodded, but not before shooting up a stream of air through his nostrils,

"M-mom s-said Sir Gareth was coming over", through his stuttering the now named myth didn't know what to make of why the kid of all people put 'sir' before his name, "b-but when I got outside I-I didn't find G-Gareth, I just found monsters and Mordred"

His tears seem to come back, as Laura offered some reassuring pats. Having directly looked between the two teenage brunettes when uttering the two 'M' words he treated as a curse, Summer tried to take a step forward and reach out a hand to,

"Amr, you can't go around making assumptions… especially harmful ones", he shied away from her hand, and the mother reeled it back almost instantly, as if it still held her steel axe's.

"B-but she has weird ears… and there was a ghost that said he was sleeping with them", if Gareth's wasn't so stunned into silent, he would immediately begin waving his hands, as all adult occupants eyes slightly widen and shifted to the two sets of students they could see,

"I-uh… he j-just means", feeling his awkwardness on his behalf, Velvet's face did go read, and he was honestly wondering if her hair and fur would follow suite,

"I do not wish to contradict Amr's statement. But he is given an unreliable retelling of the account, I merely provide Gareth comfort, as he slept with Velvet", and now Gareth's own locks lit on fire, as even the exhausted Arthur seemingly did a double take as if wondering if he heard them correctly.

"See, only villains would sleep with monsters!", put off by the electric voice, Amr took it in a far better and more accurate way then Laura, Summer, or Arthur, "He is just Mordred"

"It's okay, it's okay", the emerald eye other said, but now clearly as had her priority else were as she looked towards the suppose ender of legends demanding for him to state with his own words what transpired, "there are no monsters, see for yourself"

Looking up towards Laura, then towards Gareth who remained speechless, and Velvet who was essentially malfunctioning his eyes never lost their fear. But at least now contained enough bravery to look at her ears,

"S-see, she's like a rabbit… that makes her a monster or like Morgan", the bunny appendages going down in sorrow, as well as wanting to hide for the previous reason, Laura began piecing together all the Arthurian talk. Shooting the source itself a stone-cold gaze, which immediately got the man to look towards the artificial window, she began trying to fixes everybody's mess,

"Morgan and Mordred aren't here, they can't be since their trapped in Britain", she said reassuringly, "... and monsters don't have name, so Velvet can't be one"

The logic was...beyond flawed. But, as with most nine-year old's, so long as it sounded reasonable enough it could be accepted. Amr eventually nodded, but didn't lose the fear in his eyes when looking towards the planet hopping faunus,

"And since Gareth didn't sleep with any monsters, he can't be Mordred", Amr's disbelieving glare captured the emerald eyed teenagers' attention just long enough that he could pretend to ignore his mother's emphasis on the middle word of the sentence,

"...b-but what about the ghost", he looked at the closest tablet in fear.

"...That's just", despite have handle the scenario up until now perfectly, Laura still seemed a bit perplexed on what penny was herself, and as such did have to dedicate actual mental though when figuring out an answer, "a friend you can't always see"

"If you wish to, physical contact with Gareth-", multiple looks for an amount of reasons that would destroy a small forest if it were written down, were sent the hidden Atlesian's way, and Gareth saw her mouth cutely inhale itself closed.

"...so if their friends… then they're not monsters?", his curiosity was presented with caution, but at Laura nod he at least had the courage to look back to Velvet with just suspension and not outright terror, "...so are they just weird because their teenagers? Is this what you said puberty was?"

It was a good thing Arthur wasn't drinking any coffee, for his son's question just woke him up… and seeing how the liquid would have stained his wife's cloak brown, he would have been violently put back to bed.

"I...uh… pass", the blue-eyed man looked towards Summer with desperation.

"What do you mean pass?", the spirit gave out a betrayed response, before she suddenly paused at seeing another set of silver eye land on her, "I mean...uh… you see Amr…"

"Will I be getting bunny ears when I grow up?", his questioning was now beating back his paranoia, but he was interlining debating whether he'd want such a structure. Meanwhile the actual rodent appendaged being muttering something under her breath in a defeated manner. Although it was in Danish of all things, Gareth was really to bet money she was pointing out how they were rabbit ears not bunnies.

"...no...but...y-you see… y-you'll", unsure if he was in a fever dream or not, the conversation was swinging in a completely new direction, until Laura once again forced it back on track.

"You'll understand more when you older", the golden-haired boy pouted at this but nodded, "but right now I think some apologies are in order, after all it wasn't very polite to call people monster"

The youngest Aelle's face went red at this, but for the right form of embarrassment as he slowly looked up back towards the people he had insulted. Seemingly questioning himself whether he should or not, he looked back to Laura, as if asking if he had too, and was met with a respectful and caring 'go ahead' type nod.

"I-I'm sorry I called you a ghost", out of the corner of his eyes, gareth saw the humanoid form of electricity look his way confused on how she should go about her own response, but he could offer no support,

"...Apology accepted", in truth, Penny probably didn't feel as if she was ever wronged, being the overly kind person she was, being overly understanding was part of her trademark.

"A-and I didn't mean to call you Morgan", Velvet looked confused on who that actually was. But, seemingly having faced preemptive discrimination before, offered a nervous and partially real smile,

"That's okay… t-they shock a lot of people", the white cloak woman seemed to move her gaze away from that, whether out of guilt or relief that she avoided 'the talk' Gareth didn't care enough to find out.

"... a-and your my brother and only protect us from Mordred, so I'm sorry I thought you were him", he saw it coming, but this was the first time Amr actually addressed the emerald eye boy waiting for a response… and as Gareth stared off into space, watching the child who...had his life, everybody else grew tense at what words the brunette would return,

"I always thought Mordred was a pretty good guy, so don't sweat it", the first thing Gareth noticed about his own comment, was how casual it was uttered. Far more than he thought it would be. It wasn't a product of the emotionlessness he wanted Arthur to feel from him before, but it was as if he was truly just talking to a stranger… Unfortunately, as Amr's mouth hung open, and Laura's eyes began to drill into her actual son's skull, he realized the vocabulary his tone came with did have meaning… although in no way did, he state a lie.

"H-how… but he's evil-", Amr didn't express anger, rather pure shock that anybody could hold such a belief. That the very ideal broke all laws of spacetime.

"He's just tired… aren't you Gareth", the message received a command being held behind gritted teeth. And Laura began actually walking Amr away. Who remarkably hadn't let go by this point, "he doesn't know what he's saying, but until he wakes up why don't you talk to me"

Besides Velvet and Penny, who weren't directly involved in the family, or rather broken family dynamic, everybody looked towards Laura with wide eyes. Only for them to go even wider, when Amr nodded and pointed towards one of the halls,

"I can show you to my room… nice lady?", realizing he never got a name, the boy looked relieved when the emerald eyed woman smiled down and continued walking.

"I'm Gareth's mom, but you can call Aunt Laura if you want", wanting to access his inner child, the youngest Cadarn felt the urge to break something… and given all the object he could shatter belonged to Arthur the only thing holding back his temptation was his rabbit faunus crush potentially seeing him lose control… on the bright side though, the emotion wasn't produced because he was Arthur's son...and like an explosion, the chaos in his head was soon over as he realized he was just jealous that Amr was able to get his mom to smile when over the last day and night he's just gotten her to frown.

By the time that was realize, Amr's, face remarkably showcased a different reaction than all of Gareth's emotions. With the child's eyes lit up like a full moon, as he happily took on the new addition to his family. Just before Laura could capitalize on having another shot at parenthood, she gave one last gaze to Arthur, Summer, and Gareth himself… and leaving all her frustration with them she wordlessly said, 'now work out your own problems'.

The immediate response to that was silence, as even Penny didn't feel the courage to break it as seconds turned into minutes. At first Gareth remained with a shut mouth because he was jealous of how quickly his mother was adapting to her newfound environment… as well as the fact Amr seemed to be winning her over too. Although he at least tried to put logic on the second and focus his attention back to the matter at hand.

Which was of course the cause for the second bout of his sealed lips. As he realized he was in a room with Arthur and the spirit… and now couldn't rely on his initial emotions to drive a conversation, or rather anger field outburst for him,

"So...Laura's taking things well", to his credit, the blue eyed director didn't seem to hate the idea his ex-wife was now his youngest sons ant...with her lips tilted downward in defeat, and almost comedic sorrow, Summer was not taking it as well,

"I was always the cool parent", she whispered it, and almost as if she was five, had to have Arthur put a reassuring hand on her shoulder,

"...relativity sucks", and thus Gareth, unknowingly, also said his first direct words to Summer. As both now lost parents looked to the found knight.

"...I probably deserve that a well-", Arthur was more shocked Gareth spoke at all in their direction and delivered a hesitant response. Although rolling his eye, the emerald eye boy was not more frustrated at his instinct causing a conversation to start,

"Shut up Arthur '', having gone through multiple stages of grief, the young Cadarn utter this exhaustion, signaling at the very least he was unhappy with the conversation he was about to have… but that he'd drag himself through it.

Not wanting to utter another apology, the head Aelle puckered his lips closed. Which, as he racked his own brain for words, allowed his grim reaper wife to speak up instead,

"... he really didn't mean to call you Mordred", she spoke quietly, as if her words were checking for landmines and already bracing for when one went off.

"And I really didn't take it an insult… although I've always had to come to my own conclusion on the myth", this time he did look at Arthur, if he had to accept he was here, he could at least be passive aggressive about it… it wasn't healthy, but it was all Gareth could muster.

"Looking through the material regarding the subject, I do believe most interpretation revolve around Mordred Pendragon being an antagonist-", putting their own disguised dispute on hold, Velvet delivered Penny the universal kill signal out of pity, and even though she was facing the wrong direction, the pastel huntress got the message.

"That's only because everybody thinks Arthur's the hero", not being able to bring himself to ever be mad at the electronic being, Gareth sighed before actually having his emerald sea meet with Arthur's blue one, "but Gareth was never important to those stories, so who am I to judge"

"... you're important to Amr", narrowing his eyes, the now technical high school dropout looked confused towards Summer who had spoken up, "... even if Gareth wasn't brought up as much as Galahad, or Nimue...Amr always thought he was the best knight. He was really excited when he found out he had a brother Gareth-"

"He doesn't think…", Penny looked as if she was about to say something, but was silenced as she heard her organic housing units, "Listen… I...I'm going to stay, because I want to make sure Velvet and Penny… I'm not just leaving them with the government"

Too afraid to say the right thing, that he wanted them to get back home, the brunette knight just looked to the ground briefly as his argument nearly faltered. But his eyes came back up with new, while not burning, cold determination,

"I don't like you two in fact I outright think you're the worst people on the planet, and if it wasn't for that weird demon mutt on the highway", fear almost snaked its way in, as Gareth actually focused on the terrifying reason why he was here in the first place… truthfully, his anger towards Arthur at the time was probably the only thing holding him back from fainting at the brief glimpse of the nightmare field beast Velvet and Penny called 'Grimm', "I'd say you were the worst things...But I'm willingly to put up with your presence, and try to be mature about this whole… issue"

He didn't even really know what to call it anymore, but given what he was about to say, familiar troubles were not it,

"But… just stop pretending like we'll somehow fixes things Arthur", he began, and tried to look at the window… only to find it was artificial, "We can talk as people, not that I'll ever think you're a good one of those, but you've never been my dad, and that's not because I didn't want you to be"

Arthur's melted shut lips soften, but only to frown. Summer began looking between Gareth and him shocked, waiting for the latter to counter whatever the youngest Cadarn was going to say,

"You just never wanted me to be your son", Velvet looked more shocked at the word recipient, but even that reaction paled in comparison to the Grim reaper's.

"That's not true Gareth...I know… I know this looks bad, b-but Arthur doesn't love Amr then you-", the silver eyed woman was frantic, and for reasons that didn't evolve Aelle's or Cadarn's.

"He does, the only reason I'm here is because you guys wanted Velvet", the son interrupted her, but the father didn't exist to do so, "that isn't the problem though...the only times he was ever remotely around was when I was still in diapers, and by the time I was five… he was just the man who came to my house to tell me a fairytale once a week, until he couldn't even bring himself to care enough to do that"

The woman was now looking towards the eldest Aelle, pleading with her eyes for him to speak up, to say anything, but he remained still. Not unnatural so… rather respectfully, as he bravely, or rather without the need for courage, calmly met Gareth's eyes with his own,

"A-and that sucks...I tried for so long to convince myself I didn't care, but I did…", he did stutter, but it no longer mattered, he wasn't trying to fool himself with the need for thought out anger. This wasn't about Arthur feeling guilt, it was just about the truth that hurt Gareth just as much, and one that if he didn't address he'd use to hurt others, "so you do love Amr more than me… and I am jealous of him… but just for the concept that he gets to have a dad, not because he has you… and for what it's worth I'll try to apologize to him about the whole Mordred thing, and since I really don't want to hate him, I'll even try to get along and maybe explain how the first unwanted sons really just a victim."

"G-Gareth, please I d-didn't mean", always taking blame that wasn't her, Velvet must have been thinking back to the conversion in the car. However, with a level of quiet confidence he didn't think he had, the emerald eyed boy was able to give her a soft shake of his head, trying to ease any false quilt she was building for herself.

"I-It's a unique situation I was put in Velv... even Arthur knows that", silence was all the agreement the named man could voice, but it was a devastating blow to his wife who still was now praying for him to actually speak, "He wasn't ready for a kid… and neither was my mom…"

"I thought it was my fault, and maybe I still do… but at the end of the day, the problem isn't how much he didn't like me, or how much he does care about Amr", remembering the night this all began, Gareth looked into the moon, finding its eyes meeting him as if eclipsed. Still pleading with the stoic king who didn't listen, and shocked that somebody was even looking at her at all, "He's never viewed me as a son, because he only felt bad about leaving Laura. But I wasn't even a factor… the proof that Arthur's not my dad is because he loved you more than me Summer"

She was his role model, the person who he didn't even really know was ever real or not, but always looked to as a reminder that even the worst moment had beauty. Only she returned… and shattered his moonlit angel as her world problems paled when compared to the one, she created for him on Earth,

"After all, only you cared enough to pity me", weather the woman wanted to treat her hood as a cave and hide into it, or fling it off and actually yell at Gareth he didn't know, all he did observe was that she was paralyzed in her inability to choose, "... but I don't want your pity, and I don't want Arthur as a dad. I just want to help the people I do care about… so just tell me what I have to do to help them with that"

With the awkward silence return, Gareth actually felt his old personality return as well. It wasn't the same as before, and with his life being altered in so many ways over the course of a mere week he would probably never achieve his previous character. However, that was part of growth, and even that still had to come forth from an unchangeable seed. As such, with his feet beginning to shift weight, and his face going red as Velvet wrapped collapsed his hand with her in… sorrowful support, the emerald eyed teenager felt almost nostalgic.

...and then that just turned to embarrassment as the physical contact he now felt reminded his mother definitely didn't forget about all the innuendo the silver-eyed child had accidentally voiced in his explanation.

"Tell him he's wrong", Summer whispered in a demanding tone. But one out of desperation, as if only pretended to be a held back shout, "Marriages...they can fall apart… but he is your son, that-"

"He's right Summer", although Gareth nodded as if he was happy for Arthur's understanding, the voice he held was… different then to all the other times he heard the man talk. Now given, his instinct hiding behind some sense of normalcy, he was more concerned on how much sweat he must be producing because of the foreign brunette's proximity to him. However, if he had the bravery to analysis the words, he'd know Arthur no longer held the passion his brief commands in the car did, "and I'm sorry about that Gareth, you did deserve a dad, and I'm sorry I couldn't be that for you"

The grim reaper's face shattered, but almost as if he was an actor in the midst of his finale performance, the man continued,

"Given your aura, and your connection to this Remnant program-", briefly Gareth did shoot him a look at how he was addressing Penny. But the anger it contained was now hesitant, and it too… felt somewhat like a performance...not that he didn't want the digital woman to be disrespected, but the conversation was feeling fake… but that's what his body wanted, and thus made it true, "Penny, we'll try to prepare you for any dangers that could come your way. In the meantime, Summer and I have a lot to plan in order to help resolve this situation, and figure out and stop the other trespassers who voluntarily arrived"

He began walking away, and although his halberd wielding wife held more than enough power to stop him physically, she followed after. She began calling his name, and even though his paced was pressed and almost militaristic in its slowness, she acted as if she was trying to run after a fleeing child.

"... well that was awkward", Gareth words were proof that the false nature of the atmosphere didn't leave the room with Arthur.

"I-if… do you want to talk about… a-are you okay?", she looked to Penny for… almost encouragement, but the electronic soul stared at Gareth as if he was just diagnosed with a turmoil illness.

"N-not really...I'm sorry you guys had to see that...but honestly, considering I've signed up to fight interplanetary superhumans and mutated dogs… I should probably prepare for that", he rubbed the back of his neck, and the motion, while familiar, didn't feel natural but rather a forced attempt at embarrassment, "... by the way… I-I don't actually have to fight them… I-I mean I don't know if I can be like yo-"

The fear Gareth had when remaining what these people were capable, was in fact very real,

"I have promised to keep you and Velvet safe Gareth… thus I must be honest. Huntsmen on Remnant are trained from a young age. The human body must be conditioned to operate and adapt to muscle memories that go against their very biological nature", despite the military, and brutality, of Penny's truth, her tone was far too caring for the terminology it carried, "However, there are other ways to help. As such I will prepare you mentality to better utilize your semblance, and ensure you reach a healthy state of mind"

The emerald eyed boy didn't want to question her on why she chose the phrase, 'state of mind', but with Velvet's hand squeezing tiger his ripening cheeks didn't dwell on the vocabulary of the explanation,

"A-and even if you can't become a Hunter… Aura can be conditioned… i-in fact-we can start strengthening it outside if you want", a goofy smile appeared on Gareth's face, as even with the knowledge he was going to essentially get beat up… it would be by his cute alien friend.

"A-awesome...p-plan sound… I mean s-sounds like a plan", the boy stumbled over his own words down the entirely of a skyscraper's stairwell. However, as Velvet smiled at his bashfulness, he all of a sudden didn't mind his mom was going to tease him endlessly on what training with Velvet could imply.

Both teens seemingly embracing the pure form of awkwardness, they began going to the only hallways they remotely knew the layout of. Only for the latter to stop as he reminder the third person in the room,

"Hey Penny, you want to-"

"I do not believe I can benefit from this exercise hiccup. I will begin preparing for are alone time", confused at all the word choice Penny was deliberate choosing, Gareth's eyes were too focused on the fact velvet's hand was still connected to his.

"Sounds good… see you later then"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Why are you lying", Summer was furious, but was feeling betrayed by her own body, as her tone posture shined with that of a beggar, "You love Gareth, go back there and tell him the truth this instant"

Acting as if his head was behind a layer of overcast clouds, Summer didn't look up to meet Artur's eyes. Instead she tried to get in front of him. If she merely stopped in her tracks, she'd basically be a sheer cliff he'd break his nose walking into. But each time he kept going, she got caught in his jet stream and was return to the side,

"This is the only way", the humidity in the clouds was that of a held off thunderstorm, but silver eyes avoiding the center didn't catch onto that fact. Instead, as a door opened, and the observatory room was revealed, she followed him inside, "... Things weren't going to work out like we hoped"

"Don't give me that bullshit", she stated that, and clenching her hands, she realized her weapon was still leading in the entrance way… and while she in no way would ever unleash it on a non-aura user, let alone her husband, she now realized how much she relied on it to make a physical point, as if it was the only source of her strength, "I just explained how the world isn't a story book to a sentient piece of Atlas code"

If the eldest Rose hadn't spoken to Penny's personality, such a claim would have been… well counter intuitive based on the culture norms and emotional ranger of the people from the north of Remnant,

"And yeah, the family structure Gareth deserved to half was never there...but just because you're not getting back with Laura doesn't change the fact he's your son", feeling as if their argument in this room that had set these events into motion didn't happen, Summer was grasping at the Arthur who had slight hope, who was going to face the challenge even if it hurt, "So stop your self-pitying, and go back out there-"

"He talked to me Sums", the first rain dropped leaked its way down, and the nickname he hadn't used for her since she first realized i name was uttered with thanks, "h-he was honest...and… he's willingly to do it more"

The misplaced Vale natives first instinct was to berate him on what he decided to pick up from Gareth's conversation, but seeing him wipe his eyes, all she could do was stare at him in shock. Only for their uncanny ability to be on the same page to kick in, as she walked over and across from him on the literal control panel.

Having realized the emerald eyed boy's hair had been blonde throughout her entire view of the conversation...she only just now saw that Arthur's treasured coated strands were in fact such a color… and not a starless sky.

"I-I've handled this so poorly, God I've screwed it up", he ran a hand through his hair and laughed, "a-and he's right, those two girls were the only reason we were there… but I'm not leaving this time Summer… I-I know it's selfish, but even if I have to lie and pretend to be indifferent… I just want to be able to talk"

"... Arthur", she reached out. Her mind screamed at her she didn't know how to handle the situation, but her instinct certainly did,

"A-all I've ever done in this room is pretend to be indifferent and after the car ride, I didn't think he'd ever talk to me again… but now with him being here… I don't want to… but if it means he'll stand my presence, that he'll even try to interact with Amr", it was honestly a bit off putting how joyous Arthur's sadness was… and also something to envy, "T-the woman I cheated on is talking to our son as if he's her nephew… and Gareth's in my k-kitchen wanting to work with me"

If Summer didn't know better, she'd say she was witnessing denial… but she now realized he just had actual hope. Not the one that Amr gave him, nor even the one she tried to voice to him last night… but the one that came when coming realizing that his biggest regret was now something that could be worked on… that he was now dedicate to correcting,

"Thank you, Summer,… I just", she wasn't expecting that, but her body had already parted the cloak and embarrassed him as he suddenly stood up, "Without you I would have just been a coward… I would have avoided Gareth; I wouldn't have even gone to make sure he was okay… b-but now… I know what he said… b-but I am his dad, and even if it takes the rest of our lives, even if I have to put on an act… I'm going to show him we're family"

What Arthur was saying… it was concerning, it was almost sociopathic in the way he went about thinking how acting like the man Gareth wanted him to be could help. But as the storm clouds gave ways to pounds, Summer felt her own tears flowing forth,

"S-sorry, I know it sounds insane… but I… I didn't deserve this chance, and for you to help me g-get it again", she pushed back slightly, and now he looked up and realized her own weather cycle was derived from a different source, "Summer?"

"Ruby Rose", the man's eyes shined with confusion, before a ray of revelation evaporate his tears, and he looked on with understanding, "Penny… she said Ruby Rose was her friend… it should be Xiao Long… Gareth's is Cadarn, why isn't hers Xiao Long"

The fabric of Arthur's shirt got closer once again, and he didn't offer any words… not that any would help. Sometimes tears just had to come. Perhaps that had been the problem in the first place. While Summer wanted to berate the man initially for not being like his earlier self-ready to embark or be the one on the plane ready to face his consequence, all the two of them said were words. There were emotions and tears to them, but not like this, not like the naturalness of the true feelings emerged when the process actually played out.

Only she was only half completed, and while Arthur had some hope and closure in knowing why Gareth was so distraught… Summer was only hints of her own family.

"They knew to hate you, they knew what they had to forgive", she clutched a piece of soft fabric, "My daughters think I'm a hero... Some sort of martyr. She changed her last name Arthur...my precious is honoring a mother who doesn't know her… and I left Yang, I left her just like Raven did"

She needed to get back to Remnant, she needed to get back there with Arthur, Amr, and even the Cadarn's. If for nothing else, then to use the latter as proof of her own misdeeds. Go to the still Rose-Xia Long house, bust down the door and show them that she's nothing but a false idol.

"They should hate me, I want them to hate me", pictures of Tai looking betrayed filled her mental images, and her own feeling of treachery spiked when she realized the only reason she couldn't picture a grown up Ruby and Yang was because she refused the opportunity.

"...Excuse, but I do not believe either of you will receive hatred", jumping back, the two inhabitants of the room were clearly not expecting a third. And separating like two high schoolers caught behind the schoolyard, they separated slightly.

"P-Penny… How long have you been there", the computer screen lit up, and in place of the camera a pure green screen was presented instead.

"I commandeered the system before you two arrived", it was stated casually, but not in a negative way, "In what I can only dream of as irony, I initially came here expecting to express my first acts of disappointment… but while I do not agree with either of the way you two are or wish to go about solely your relationships with you children… they will not hate you"

"Uh… thank you for the support...P-Penny", Arthur still found using the name awkward, but was honestly more unsure of why he should be talking to her...especially in such a private moment, "But-"

Before he could politely ask her to stop eavesdropping, the computers soundwaves echoed across the room,

"You are quite welcome, after all I am overjoyed to see you two expressing tears for your children", proof of her Atlas origin was delivered five times over in that sentence. Although the joy, and logic behind it was sound and true… the words themselves could easily be misinterpreted, "My Father had given a large sacrifice to have the responsibility of raising a daughter...although he would often laugh about having cheated by skipping over the 'awkward phase'."

...shooting each other a look, both parents also realized they accidentally avoided the same fate… and might get out of it a third time since Laura seemed to be an expert with Amr.

"His confusing sense of humor aside, you clearly care about your relationships, enough for you two to seek your own punishment", the screen began flickering, and new colors began forming pictures. Almost as if she was straining herself, sparks of electricity sparked form the machine as its user and equipment were feeling something new to happen, "as I said, I believe both of you are going about your pursuit of a real relationship in a miscalculated manner… but I will try not to interfere, for my personal relationships may cause me to act irrationally"

Under normal circumstances, Arthur would know doubt say her behavior of feeling empathic towards their emotions was irrational. But he was to flabbergast at being lectured by a machine to voice such a thing,

"That being promised… I would like to show you something Mrs. Rose", it wasn't a question that was waiting for approval, rather, as the colors gave way to a sky, brick road, and distinctively Valish architecture, it was one that would see the approval at the end.

Before she could even blink at the sight of a video of her own home Kingdom's capital, Summer's eyes widened as four figures appeared on the screen. Their pixels stitching themselves together as they spoke,

"My name is Penny! It's a pleasure to meet you", the camera swayed, or rather the eyes did as both adults realized just how energetic the electric being was meant to be. And how limited she was when essentially trapped in her own brain. However, that thought was soon reserved for later...as red and black lights morphed together.

Almost being drawn onto the screen, with blacked laced boots, an almost criminally adorable combat skirt, and a flowing red cape,

"Hi Penny, I'm Ruby", and, with a shy but polite greeting of her own, Summer's younger clone face came into view. Silver eyes shining, and with her darken crimson hair waving as it was brought up and down with a short hop on her toes, more tears came coming down. But in line with Arthur's they were far more a product of uncontrollable joy.

"I'm Weiss", so caught up in seeing her daughter as a fifteen-years-old instead of a diaper wearing toddler, Summer barley caught sight of the next girl to appear in Penny's view. Although if she did, she noticed Arthur blink his eyes in shock that some of the hair pigments, or lack there off, Summer spoke of was true...also she'd see his eyes dart side to side, as even without understanding the language, the person's tone came off a bit to signed for their own good.

"Blake", dressed for the tropics, Summer's eyes danced over the next female as well. Not evening noticing the strangeness of the ribbon, or how it behaved atop her head. Once again though Arthur was there to look confused on how two thirds of the responses had been somewhat rude.

More importantly however, a streak of yellow is now coming into view. Summer watched golden locks gain form, as a gauntleted clad boxer grazed the screen. Hair outshining the sun, Summer reached out a hand, almost unsure if it all this was real, or how astonishing it was to see her daughters grown up,

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?", and that made three fourths, although the tanned black-haired girl was able to at least offer a hit the fiery fighter's side, "Oh, I'm Yang"

And thus, it all came loose. As now the moon's tears had noise to accompany them, and like the oceans eyed ones, she set off waves of laughter. Echoing across the room she nearly wanted to bend down and pass out… it was… such a Yang response, and even Ruby's hesitation.

She may have missed so much… but to see this, she still knew them, she still had a bond. Blood and exposure… they are not the most important things to family, the first isn't even a factor, the other is an echo of the first under normal circumstances… but it's the want to have bonds, that is what makes them exist.

So, even as the screen and electrically died down, and even if Summers mind was now concerned with her daughters actually hating them… she understood where her husband was coming out. All these years apart, all this trying to forget… it was the true enemy, and nothing would stop her from finding its antidote. Not space, not time, and certainly not Salam.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was all going as his all too conscious mind had predicted. A slow build up, to an increasingly exponential pace… although it was way too fast for even him. Gray eyes reflecting a silent night, the motionless mercenary looked up to the moon, it was half lit. Not in the same way Remnant's was, it wasn't because it was incomplete, just hiding part of itself...maybe it was trying to hide from this scene.

In reality it was just proof of time passing, and although the units this planet kept track of that universal constant were lost on Mercury, he could at least tell the ever silver night watcher above had almost gone through a full cycle since he last saw it in this form. Tyrian of course didn't notice such a thing, but he currently made use of each night.

It had started off with outlying residential areas, places where houses were, to their knowledge at least, miles apart. The sadist would go in when all the building's eyes shut, and much to the scorpion's own displeasure be out in a matter of minutes. The vials that now formed two full belts around his belt, slowly filling up with black ooze.

… They were in a rush, and as such Salam's favorite little errand boy could no longer savor the kills. Now he simply went through the motions of being a serial killer. However, knowing the authorities would now find their trail faster, they began forsaking their stealth at an equal rate. Increasing productivity in an attempt to combat time.

The houses and communities began getting closer together, and no longer were estates spared. Over the course of the last three weeks, the luxurious house's density increased… and meant that Emerald and himself were no longer expected to be observers.

Trapped within their own gated communities, these people were dying in their sleep, not even aware their lives were about to come to end. Seeing movement on the rooftop, Mercury's eyes followed Tyrian leap to his next work area… and saw Emerald follow suite.

Maybe he was falling into stereotypes, or maybe he always just viewed the crimson eyed girl as a much better human being than himself, but he never imagined he'd become the hesitant one between the two. The person to now offer being on perimeter watch if it meant getting out from assisting in this slaughter. To her credit, even if Mercury was the last person on the planet to give it out, he didn't think his sickle slinging companion was murdering the families. Given the wealth of this area's natural showcase, these people had guards, and armed ones at that… even if they never got the chance to use their weapon, or even know they had too, Emerald only ever struck down the people who she thought at least had a remote chance of fighting back.

...Although that was why the bionic Remnant native was here instead of next to her at the moment. I differed in ideology on what counted as resistance. Mercury hated his dad, but as he saw house after house be depleted, guard after guard be dropped so fast only their bodies made a soft echo on the ground, he could only remember the one lessen his father beat into him.

Show superiority by beating people as equal, he scoffed at the statement, he saw his dad's version of a level playing field. It wasn't about actually viewing people in the same respect to oneself, it was about using that to strip them of who they were… his father was just like Tryian, and his inability to feel the earth beneath his feet was proof enough of that.

However, the lesson, much to his continued hatred, stuck. Back on Remnant it was always about stripping people of semblances they relied far too much upon… but here on this rock in the middle of gods know where… Mercury had no way of being these peoples equal. He could strip his aura, but that wouldn't resolve the fact it's very unlocking gave him far more strength and agility then any of these sleeping sheep. Worse than that… it wasn't as if he could pretend these people were fighters, they didn't try to be his equal, they had no reason to be. If he went to slaughter them it wouldn't even be murder on his end, he would just be a human walking through an ant hill.

Sure, he'd be going out of his way to kill them, but that was all that mattered. There was no need to see how they could counterattack, no need to think about where to attack, or worry about who could attack him within the next second. He was a God here; whose mere thoughts are what controlled lives… and he hated that above all else. The helplessness he now controlled… the same one a parent held over a toddler.

Why am I here? that's all Mercury had ever thought since he arrived. It was on repeat, and the one question that always arises whenever he was left alone for too long...he hated everything, enough to work for Salam for sure but… Emerald had been right, their issue was with Remnant, not some aura less people they could easily strike down. The longer he stayed here, the more he wondered if he'd ever get to even return to his own revenge. Tyrian had lost his mind, and while their knowledge theoretically may have gone up, the evidence itself was now taking center stage, If this is some sort of twisted karma because I didn't let the damn Rose save that Atlas piece of junk

He didn't finish his thought as the image of him stopping the prodigal first year shifted from a red head in a crimson cape to an older one in white. He didn't know what was with that family, but they were far too problematic for his liking now. Although, the issue was with the scorpions faunus hate for Summer more than made him question the coincidence in connection between the first traveler and her daughter.

… Seemingly having known she was here; Mercury was shocked by how much the eldest member of their group shifted his focus into wanting her dead. Salam emphasized the crown, that's what they were supposed to be after, Summer was certainly an obstacle to achieving that, but not the one they should be obsessing over. But whenever Tryian spoke of abusing his army of Grimm, of why they were killing, it was in regard to how he was going to tear apart the snow cloaked grim reaper. Detailing how he'd drag her bloody and broken corpse by the end of torn off limbs to Salam's feet.

The gray eyed mercenary always thought the slicked back haired man's sadism would cause him trouble. But now his obsession with it and Summer Rose were making him question if he'd get back home at all. While they were Gods for the moment, it was only ever against these people, and the clock ticking down to whenever the lost Remnant native herself, or this planet's government, would come to bring back their morality was now speeding up.

"...should have just pretend to get lost during the chaos at beac-", the hand he brought up to rib his temple was interrupted by feet crunching stiff grass.

The occupants of the artistically designed mansion being far more occupied then Mercury originally thought after seeing Tyrian and Emerald leave, was just now only truly empty. Seeing a silhouette dashing towards a side house, that was nothing more than a ramble shack to make the first one seem all the more impressive, the silver haired teen watched as a rasp breath boy, no older than himself stumbled his way across the lawn.

Once he reached the house, he seemed to give off a false sigh of relief, only to have the already dead hope being buried. Air creaking as it made his way down his lungs, the young man saw the aftermath of what Emerald had done.

Opening the door, the still bleeding throat of a blacked uniform man crumbled into the tall boy. Must believing he was in a nightmare, the kid was too scared to even scream out, or trained enough to take the weapon the guard had as he shoved the body off and began dashing in the other direction...in Mercury direction.

The moon's halfhearted light giving more detail, Mercury saw the horror movie victim in increasing distance. Blonde hair now dripping with blood, and the crimson river staying nighttime appeals to the mercenary who couldn't help but frown.

Maybe a year or two youngers than himself, the golden lock kid stood well over six feet, and had a sturdy build. Under normal circumstances, or what the Grimm agent could only fathom what normal was on this planet, the boy wouldn't have much to be afraid of from intruders. However, his muscle and limitations were held back by biology he didn't even know was a restraint. His blue eyes now coming into view, the fear the boy was blinded by only received the light of Mercury's own figure when practically ran into him,

"Oh my God, Oh my fucking God you've got to call the police man", the now blood soak kid was startled beyond al belief, but even without contexts for the words he stated Mercury could tell he wasn't being viewed as a threat, "They killed my parents...fucking animals slit their throats"

Mercury blinked, and as the blue-eyed behemoth lost his height and grasped two hands onto his shoulders, the boy's eyes realized he was pleading to the wrong man. His gray aura rippling across his body, the boy jumped back, but was too helpless to do anything but freeze. The only survival his body thought he know had coming in the form of pity,

"What the hell… You're one of those freaks aren't you… Jesus Christ, what do you want with us, is it money, holy shit I'll give you money, just don't fucking touch me", how somebody like him got missed by Tyrian was beyond mercury, however, as he looked back to the house that followed this one's site, he saw the faunus pauses on the roof. With better eyes than him, he looked back as emerald went in, and even if he couldn't see it, Mercury knew a smile was being sent his way...somehow, even in his sacrifice for efficiency, the sadist found his moment to take pleasure in, "Just don't… don't kill me, I've… I can literally give you anything, and-"

The gray eyed man sucked in his lips, and then put a hand over the boys. Whatever nonsense he had been going on was cut off, as his irises now held the emotions of the homebody truly begging for their life… and for once… Mercury didn't want to follow through with order, he didn't want to act free by sniffing somebody out… but with a spectator, he didn't have much of a choice…

"For what it's worth, kid… it's going to be fast… and you'll at least know it's coming", the words were said more for Mercury's own sanity than the being shouted to be executed, but picking up on universal tone, the kids' muscles slumped.

Making it harder Mercury didn't even know the kid had been resisting ever since he shut him up… but that fact was only making the act come harder. Not even needing his legs, the usually quick-witted aura user spun the blonde-haired kid around, and silently put one hand on his temple, while the other remained fixated on his shoulder.

Out of mercy, for himself and the now flickering soul, Mercury turned his gaze away from Tyrian and even had the boy look towards the moon. Maye they could both take solace in the fact one wouldn't have to be stuck in this hell in a moment's time,

There was never going to be a right time for the execution, and staying true to his promise, Mercury increased his limbs with more aura than was needed. Literally feeling as if he was just ripping off a bandage, he moved his arms in two different directions, and whatever resistance the vertebrae offered proved just as feeble as the giant's young man's pleas.

With nothing but a physical gasp of air leaving his lungs, the boy's body was cut off from its brain. The resources keeping both alive proved worthless without the other as when Mercury let go, they collapsed and crumpled to the ground lifeless. The only relief the killer could take from the scene, being that the blood staining the grass, wasn't actually the blonde-haired corpses.

Not being able to turn around fully, Mercury stared back up towards the white rock that witnessed this crime. From the corner of his retina he saw Tyrian enter the next morgue, contempt enough to move onto the next set of fuel.

Losing the staring contest with the celestial body, Mercury fist clenched. With the scorpion faunus not even collecting the now fallen boy in a vile he didn't know how to feel. On the one hand the boy had escaped the fate of being part of a soulless abomination, but on the other hand he died for what then… Just so he couldn't go and tell others where he, Emerald, and Tyrian were.

The path of destruction was, from this point on, not going to be hard to pick up on. This kid's life or death wasn't going to affect that… he was dead… because Tyrian wanted Mercury to be a god, or maybe he just wanted the mercenary to be an angel of death to establish who their actual deity was.

Sighing before clenching his teeth, Mercury's eyes were just about to shift off from the lunar object...before another flash caught his eye. It was brief, and without the benefit of superior light sensitive rods, the boy couldn't even tell what had shot past the moon. For a moment he thought he saw a green trail behind it… but it had been so high up, the likelihood of it being a man-made object were dim.

...Who am I to think Remnant's got sole claim of shooting stars, given the lack of knowledge he had on this place, the teenager should be far cautious in letting things such as this go… but maybe he just wanted his caution to get its own karma, but if it's not… then these people should just cut their loss and blow this entire town to hell

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The silver haired boy, not even looking old enough to enter a bar confidently, scrunched his face and sighed as the body dropped from his hands. Through the magic of modern technology, uninhibited by companies designing it to fail, the pixels organized themselves to showcase every inch of the child's emotional range. Having captured every twitch of his muscle in such clear detail that it made actual reality look like bad CGI in a low budget film.

The machinery itself allowed his eyes to actually out speed the supercomputers analyzing every bit of the environment. As the bald haired titan watching this horror show transpired, could tell the now lifeless blonde-haired teenager who fell from his other world counterparts' hand was part of the Ascalon family. The hidden director hardly ever cared for the entertainment spectacle that was capitalism, and he had never seen the boy before his death, but he had caught glimpses of his father in the news. Such was the clarity of the screen, that it seemingly enhanced the steeled eyed department heads' own organic processor. Making him see the biological connection between father and son… then again, the giant 'A' insignia littering every entrance way also didn't help hide the now deceased family's identity.

Of course, watching the monitor that made up an entire structural wall, Uther could only credit Earth for receiving and making sense of the image. The camera that could zoom in and enhance such a performance was the product of… commandeered engineering being put to much more practical use,

"We've found our guest", the suite cladded man stated as if conjuring light into the universe. His eyes never left the screen even as the camera gained new height. Even its impressive optical abilities are being forced into submission by its other feats of mechanical innovation.

Looking through just the perspective of Uther, one might think he was talking to himself. However, from the corner of his eyes, just as the monitor switched over to display numbers revolving around altitude, velocity, and countless other mathematically saturated statistics, he revealed himself to be anything but.

Putting Nasa's ground control to shame, the elder man turned his head. Gazing out the rooms one natural glass window, he watched an amphitheater filled to the brink, house an orchestra. One not made of instruments, but of code, as hundreds of personal manned computers. Each one controlling an aspect and keeping an eye to make sure those numbers followed Uther's qualitative instructions.

His common was final, and even if he did not hear it, his words echoed across his digital translators.

"Roger that Director, bringing Pandora back to base. The reactor is performing in identical manners to all simulations, as well as two experimental flights", the voice didn't contain fear, but with loyalty a far more valuable resource and ensured to Uther that he had control of at least his personalized Olympus. But that was all he needed.

"Very good, get it decontaminated upon arrival then brought to the boxes for a close inspection", he looked at the screen again. This time leaving the numbers for those who knew what they actually meant. Instead, he was presented with the diagram. One of the tools he needed, and the one he had forged anew so it could protect weakness rather than being inflicted with it, "We've seen these monsters' pattern, and we've sacrificed enough towns. Pandora will fetch the coward too afraid for tears"

"Given their range and pattern, we'll be able to respond and have Pandora ready to incapacitate the payload within twenty minutes of all of their most likely targets… shall we begin running simulations for her to dispose of the other tw-"

Uther's brow furrowed. He hated questions, but the man and woman below needed to ask them, and the bald haired god needed to be tolerant. They weren't delivery boys, or mindless drones, they were in a sense more like the man in charge. Thinking and adopting was key to any machine, and even if the man who built it still needed absolute control, he also needed the humility to know his own limitations. As such, the man put up with their creativity, but also reminded them whose was most valued,

"Such action will not be necessary. Pandora will get its fight, but we're keeping that hand close to our chest", his words were absolute, but with a gentle pause carrying gratitude. Signaling a falsehood that he at least pretended to care about the question and initiative, "We'll handle the two animals ourselves. Do not concern yourself with such a matter, just be prepared to have company in the sky for when we bring the hammer down on these two beasts"

Unlike his own, the man's pause was genuine. But, causing the edges of his lips to float freely upwards, it was out of disappointment of not being able to provide his own newfound metal justice rather than a question in morale. Not that those two hopping from house to house deserved any. What would happen to the gray eyed trespasser, that was a necessary tragedy, but even beneath his coldness, Uther knew the two murders were getting a fate far too swift for their own good,

"Roger that Director"